Gottsched, Johann Christoph (1700–1766)

German critic and writer. He tried to abolish the bombastic affectations of the second Silesian school and substitute a nobler drama based on French models. His Kritische Dichtkunst appeared 1730, founded on Boileau's Art poétique. He also wrote Beitrage zur kritischen Historie der deutschen Sprache 1732–44. In spite of his dogmatism, Gottsched was one of the founders of German classicism.

He was born in Königsberg and became professor of poetry at Leipzig 1730 and of logic and metaphysics 1734. His wife Luise, born Kulmus (1713–1762), wrote comedies and translated, among other writers, Joseph Addison and Alexander Pope.