GOTZ

gotz, johann nikolaus (1721-1781), german poet, was born at worms on the 9th of july 1721. he studied theology at halle (1739-1742), where he became intimate with the poets johann w. l. gleim and johann peter uz, acted for some years as military chaplain, and afterwards filled various other ecclesiastical offices. he died at winterburg on the 4th of november 1781. the writings of gotz consist of a number of short lyrics and several translations, of which the best is a rendering of anacreon. his original compositions are light, lively and sparkling, and are animated rather by french wit than by german depth of sentiment. the best known of his poems is _die madcheninsel_, an elegy which met with the warm approval of frederick the great. gotz's _vermischte gedichte_ were published with biography by k. w. ramler (mannheim, 1785; new ed., 1807), and a collection of his poems, dating from the years 1745-1765, has been edited by c. schuddekopf in the _deutsche literaturdenkmale des 18. und 19. jahrhunderts_ (1893). see also _briefe von und an j. n. gotz_, edited by c. schuddekopf (1893).