Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von. German poet, philosopher, and romance writer. Born in Frankfurt-on-the-Main in 1749 of noble family. Received a liberal education. At 16 he went to Leipzig to study law to which, however, he did not confine himself. After about two years' study of alchemy and mystical writers, he went to Strassburg in 1770, where he came under the influence of Herder. On his return to Frankfurt two years later, he published "Goetz von Berlichingen" and "Die Leiden des Jungen Werther," the latter of which was immensely popular. In 1775 he went to Weimar, where the grand duke gave him the office of chamberlain. In 1786 he went to Italy, where he traveled for two years, and conceived some of his greatest works. The dramas of "Iphigenia," "Egmont," and Torquato Tasso" were produced between 1786 and 1790, in which year also the first fragments of "Faust" were published. In 1794, Goethe's botanical researches brought him into connection with Schiller. In 1796 he produced "Wilhelm Meister." The results of his scientific studies were, besides "The Metamorphosis of Plants," the "Beitrage zur Optik" (1791-92), and a book on the theory of color, "Farbenlehre," published in 1810, in opposition to Newton's theories. Meanwhile, "Hermann und Dorothea" had appeared in 1797, and the greater part of "Faust" in 1808. In the latter year, he accompanied the Duke of Weimar to Erfurt, and had an interview with Napoleon. Goethe died in 1832.

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