Schubart, Christian Friedrich Daniel (1739–1791)

German poet. He wrote blasphemous parodies and satiric poems, for which he was imprisoned 1777–87, and expressed his passionate love of freedom in such works as ‘Die Fürstengruft/The Tomb of Princes’ 1781, denouncing the misuse of power. His Samtliche Gedichte/Collected Poems appeared 1785–86.

Schubart was born in Obersontheim, Swabia. He became a church organist in the small Swabian towns of Geislingen and then Ludwigsburg, but was obliged to leave the country as a result of his blasphemous writing. After his release from prison 1787, he became manager of the theatre in Stuttgart.

Other poems include ‘Der ewige Jude/The Eternal Jew’, ‘Hymnus auf Friedrich den Grossen/Hymn to Frederick the Great’, and ‘Der Gefangene/The Prisoner’, describing his imprisonment. An autobiography, Schubarts Leben und Gesinnungen/Schubart's Life and Recollections, was published 1791.