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Stamitz, Johann

(Encyclopedia)Stamitz, Johann yōˈhän shtäˈmĭts [key], 1717–57, Bohemian-German composer. Stamitz came to Mannheim (1741) and became (1745) concertmaster of the Mannheim orchestra. He made it the best in Eur...

Wessel, Johann

(Encyclopedia)Wessel, Johann yōˈhän vĕsˈəl [key], c.1420–1489, Dutch theologian and precursor of the Protestant Reformation, also known as Wessel Harmenss Gansfort or Goesevoyrd. He was one of the Brethren ...

Lotze, Rudolf Hermann

(Encyclopedia)Lotze, Rudolf Hermann ro͞oˈdôlf hĕrˈmän lōˈtsə [key], 1817–81, German philosopher and psychologist. After studying medicine and philosophy at Leipzig, he was lecturer in both departments an...

Ersch, Johann Samuel

(Encyclopedia)Ersch, Johann Samuel yōˈhän zäˈmo͞oĕl ĕrsh [key], 1766–1828, German encyclopedist, first editor of the great encyclopedia known as Ersch and Gruber's. At his death, 17 volumes had been compl...

Kalb, Johann

(Encyclopedia)Kalb, Johann Ger. yōˈhän kälp [key], 1721–80, American general in the Revolution, known generally as Baron de Kalb, b. Hüttendorf, Germany. He assumed his title for military reasons and as Jean...

Günther, Johann Christian

(Encyclopedia)Günther, Johann Christian günˈtər [key], 1695–1723, German lyric poet. The young Goethe was inspired by the naturalness and vigor of Günther's verse. Among his remembered poems is the drinking...

De Kalb, Johann

(Encyclopedia)De Kalb, Johann: see Kalb, Johann. ...

Schnabel, Johann Gottfried

(Encyclopedia)Schnabel, Johann Gottfried shnäˈbəl [key], b. 1692, d. after 1742, German author, whose pseudonym was Gisander. He fought in the War of the Spanish Succession. Schnabel's popular novel Die Insel F...

Bach, Johann Christian

(Encyclopedia)Bach, Johann Christian bäkh [key], 1735–82, German musician and composer; son of J. S. Bach. He went to Italy in 1754, became a Roman Catholic, and composed church music and operas. In 1760 he bec...

Merck, Johann Heinrich

(Encyclopedia)Merck, Johann Heinrich yōˈhän hīnˈrĭkh mĕrk [key], 1741–91, German critic. He was the counselor of many young writers, including Goethe, whose genius he was first to recognize. ...