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Christian Furchtegott GellertGerman poet and moral philosopher of the Enlightenment, one of the most widely read German writers of the time, along with Christian Felix Weiss.
Date of Birth: 04.07.1715
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- Christian Fürchtegott Gellert
- Early Life and Education
- Literary Career
- Lecturing and Professorship
- Health and Death
- Legacy
Christian Fürchtegott Gellert
German poet and moral philosopher of the Enlightenment, Christian Fürchtegott Gellert was one of the most widely read German writers of his time, alongside Christian Felix Weisse.
Early Life and Education
Gellert was born as the fifth son of a pastor and raised in modest circumstances. From 1729, he attended the Prince's School of St. Afra in Meißen. His elder brother, Christlieb Ehregott Gellert, was a famed metallurgist and mineralogist.
In 1734, Gellert enrolled in the University of Leipzig to study theology. However, his attempts at preaching were unsuccessful due to his natural modesty, and he was forced to support himself through private tutoring and working as a tutor in aristocratic families.
Literary Career
Gellert was well-versed in French and English literature and translated parts of Pierre Bayle's encyclopedia under the guidance of Johann Christoph Gottsched. In 1744, he completed his dissertation on the theory and history of the fable.
Lecturing and Professorship
From 1745, Gellert lectured on poetry, literature, and morality in Leipzig. In 1751, he was appointed Professor of Philosophy. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe later praised Gellert's teachings on morality as the "foundation of German moral culture."
Health and Death
Gellert suffered from poor health, compounded by severe hypochondria. Treatments and trips to Berlin, Carlsbad, and Dresden failed to improve his spirits. He passed away at the age of 54.
Legacy
Gellert's hometown honored him with a monument. His impact on German literature and morality remains significant, leaving a lasting legacy as a prominent figure of the Enlightenment.
