Matthias Claudius

German poet, journalist and author. A prolific writer, he published a large number of prose, essays and poems. He is known for his idyllic poetry and for his folk songs. Claudius was a highly respected and recognized figure in the literary avant-garde of Europe during the 1770s, and he formed a number of friendships including with Klopstock and Herder. His newspapers, were favorably regarded by the cultural leaders of Germany, and the collection of his work was widely praised, most notably by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Wieland. Recently there are reprints of his published works, newspapers, and letters. Critics have begun to discover the contributions Claudius made to the development of modern literature.

He died 21 January 1815, Hamburg, Germany.