BOIE

boie, heinrich christian (1744-1806), german author, was born at meldorf in the then danish province of schleswig-holstein on the 19th of july 1744. after studying law at jena, he went in 1769 to gottingen, where he became one of the leading spirits in the gottingen "dichterbund" or "hain." boie's poetical talent was not great, but his thorough knowledge of literature, his excellent taste and sound judgment, made him an ideal person to awake the poetical genius of others. together with f.w. gotter (q.v.) he founded in 1770 the gottingen _musenalmanach_, which he directed and edited until 1775, when, in conjunction with c.w. von dohm (1751-1820), he brought out _das deutsche museum_, which became one of the best literary periodicals of the day. in 1776 boie became secretary to the commander-in-chief at hanover, and in 1781 was appointed administrator of the province of suderditmarschen in holstein. he died at meldorf on the 3rd of march 1806. see k. weinhold, _heinrich christian boie_ (halle, 1868).