Fact check: What year did Friedrich Trump, Donald Trump's grandfather, immigrate to America?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, Friedrich Trump immigrated to America in 1885. Multiple sources consistently confirm that he departed Germany on October 7, 1885, at the age of 16 and arrived at Castle Garden Immigrant Landing Depot in New York City on October 19, 1885 ^{[1] [2] [3]}. He traveled aboard the steamship Eider with a one-way ticket ^{[1] [2]}.

The sources unanimously establish that Friedrich Trump was a 16-year-old German barber at the time of his immigration ^[3]. All analyses confirm the specific timeline: departure on October 7th and arrival less than two weeks later on October 19th, 1885.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question omits several crucial contextual details that provide important background to Friedrich Trump's immigration:

• His immigration was technically illegal under Bavarian law because he had not completed mandatory military service ^[1]
• He was specifically escaping three years of compulsory German military service by leaving the country ^[3]
• He departed from Bremen, Germany before arriving in New York ^[1]
• He was working as a barber at the time of his departure ^[3]

This context reveals that Friedrich Trump's immigration was not merely a routine relocation but an active evasion of military obligations, which adds significant historical and legal context to understanding the circumstances of his departure from Germany.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself does not contain misinformation or bias - it is a straightforward factual inquiry about a specific date. However, the question's simplicity omits the controversial circumstances surrounding the immigration, which could lead to an incomplete understanding of the historical context.

The question focuses solely on the "when" without addressing the "why" or "how," which might inadvertently sanitize what was essentially an illegal departure from Germany to avoid military service. This omission doesn't constitute misinformation but represents a narrow framing that excludes potentially relevant historical context about the legal and social implications of Friedrich Trump's decision to immigrate.