Christian Furchtegott Gellert, a German poet and moralist, born in Hainichen, Saxony, July 4, 1715, died in Leipsic, Dec. 13, 1769. He was one of the early promoters of the great literary movement which produced Schiller and Goethe. The latter in his youth was one of his disciples, but judged his ethical system to be of an effeminate tendency. He published fables and poetical tales, which are still popular, letters, sacred hymns and odes, and a romance entitled "The Swedish Countess." He was professor of philosophy in the university of Leipsic.