Born in Schweinfurt, he studied law then philosophy at Würzburg and Heidelberg. Later, in Wien, he studied Oriental languages, then became professor of Oriental literature in Berlin.

Ruckert wrote the following verses in memory of his friend Joseph Kopp:

How shall I know myself without thee,
Who knew myself as part of thee?
I only know one half is vanished,
And half alone is left, of me.
Never again my proper mind
I'll know; for thee I'll never find.

Never again, out there in space,
I'll find thee; but here, deep within.
I see, tho' not in dreams, thy face;
My waking eyes thy presence win,
And all my thought and poesy
Are but my offering to thee.

...

My Jonathan, now hast thou fled,
And I to weep thy loss remain;
If David's harp might grace my hands
O might it help to ease my pain!
My friend, my Joseph, true of faith,
In life so loved-so loved in death.