Johann Martin Miller
Encyclopedia
Johann Martin Miller was a German theologian and writer.
, and in 1772 he helped to establish the Göttinger Hainbund
literary group, through which he became acquainted with Matthias Claudius
and Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock
. In 1773 he accompanied Gottlob Friedrich Ernst Schönborn (and, in 1774, Klopstock) from Göttingen to Kassel
. In 1774 and 1775 he studied in Leipzig.
Miller wrote folk songs, many of which were set by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
and others: for example "Was frag ich viel nach Geld und Gut, Wenn ich zufrieden bin." ("What need have I of cash and pelf, while I am satisfied"). In 1776 he published Siegwart, eine Klostergeschichte
("Siegwart, a Tale of the Cloister"), the biggest sensation since Werther and a bestseller. From 1776 to 1777 there appeared Briefwechsel dreyer Akademischer Freunde ("Correspondence of three friends at the academy"), an epistolary novel
, once described as "an example of the diversity of intellectual currents ... in the Age of Enlightenment, when beside the advocates of the unrestricted use of reason and intellect there were those who were only interested in the unfolding and appreciation of the powers of the anchored sensibility [Gemütskräfte] and who also advocated for the preservation of a dogmatic Christianity.". His work is comparable to that of Nicolai, Klinger, Salis, Matthisson.
After finishing his studies he was active in Ulm and its surrounds: from 1780 as pastor, from 1781 as a teacher in the high school, and from 1783 as cathedral preacher. In 1804 he became a consistorial councillor
, in 1809 district deacon, and in 1810 spiritual councillor and deacon for Ulm.
Miller entered Freemasonry
on 13 October 1774 at the Zum goldenen Zirkel lodge in Göttingen. On 11 December 1776 he was elected fellow-craft. In 1775 he helped found the Zur goldenen Kugel lodge in Hamburg. For a long time he was speaker at the Asträa zu den 3 Ulmen lodge in Ulm (which was shut during the period 1795-1807).
Johann Martin Miller died at the age of sixty-four on 21 June 1814 in Ulm.
Life
Miller was the son of an Evangelical pastor, Johann Michael Miller (1722–1774). At the University of Göttingen he studied, from 15 October 1770, theologyTheology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, and in 1772 he helped to establish the Göttinger Hainbund
Göttinger Hainbund
The Göttinger Hainbund was a German literary group in the late 18th century, nature-loving and classified as part of the Sturm und Drang movement.-Origin and description:...
literary group, through which he became acquainted with Matthias Claudius
Matthias Claudius
Matthias Claudius was a German poet, otherwise known by the penname of “Asmus”.-Life:Claudius was born at Reinfeld, near Lübeck, and studied at Jena...
and Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock
Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock
Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock was a German poet.-Biography:Klopstock was born at Quedlinburg, the eldest son of a lawyer.Both in his birthplace and on the estate of Friedeburg on the Saale, which his father later rented, young Klopstock passed a happy childhood; and more attention having been given...
. In 1773 he accompanied Gottlob Friedrich Ernst Schönborn (and, in 1774, Klopstock) from Göttingen to Kassel
Kassel
Kassel is a town located on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Kassel Regierungsbezirk and the Kreis of the same name and has approximately 195,000 inhabitants.- History :...
. In 1774 and 1775 he studied in Leipzig.
Miller wrote folk songs, many of which were set by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
and others: for example "Was frag ich viel nach Geld und Gut, Wenn ich zufrieden bin." ("What need have I of cash and pelf, while I am satisfied"). In 1776 he published Siegwart, eine Klostergeschichte
Siegwart, eine Klostergeschichte
Siegwart, eine Klostergeschichte was a novel by Johann Martin Miller. It was a bestseller. Dedicated "to all noble souls", and clearly imitating Die Leiden des jungen Werthers, the novel tells two parallel love stories, one happy, the other sad...
("Siegwart, a Tale of the Cloister"), the biggest sensation since Werther and a bestseller. From 1776 to 1777 there appeared Briefwechsel dreyer Akademischer Freunde ("Correspondence of three friends at the academy"), an epistolary novel
Epistolary novel
An epistolary novel is a novel written as a series of documents. The usual form is letters, although diary entries, newspaper clippings and other documents are sometimes used. Recently, electronic "documents" such as recordings and radio, blogs, and e-mails have also come into use...
, once described as "an example of the diversity of intellectual currents ... in the Age of Enlightenment, when beside the advocates of the unrestricted use of reason and intellect there were those who were only interested in the unfolding and appreciation of the powers of the anchored sensibility [Gemütskräfte] and who also advocated for the preservation of a dogmatic Christianity.". His work is comparable to that of Nicolai, Klinger, Salis, Matthisson.
After finishing his studies he was active in Ulm and its surrounds: from 1780 as pastor, from 1781 as a teacher in the high school, and from 1783 as cathedral preacher. In 1804 he became a consistorial councillor
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
, in 1809 district deacon, and in 1810 spiritual councillor and deacon for Ulm.
Miller entered Freemasonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
on 13 October 1774 at the Zum goldenen Zirkel lodge in Göttingen. On 11 December 1776 he was elected fellow-craft. In 1775 he helped found the Zur goldenen Kugel lodge in Hamburg. For a long time he was speaker at the Asträa zu den 3 Ulmen lodge in Ulm (which was shut during the period 1795-1807).
Johann Martin Miller died at the age of sixty-four on 21 June 1814 in Ulm.
Works
- Beytrag zur Geschichte der Zärtlichkeit. Aus den Briefen zweier Liebenden ("Towards a history of tenderness. From the letters of two lovers," 1776, reprinted with appendix in 1780)
- Siegwart. Eine Klostergeschichte ("Siegwart, a Tale of the Cloister", 1776)
- Briefwechsel dreyer akademischer Freunde ("Correspondence of three friends at the academy", 1776)
- Geschichte Karls von Burgheim und Emiliens von Rosenau ("Tale of Karl von Burgheim and Emilie von Rosenau", 1778)
- Johann Martin Millers Gedichte ("Poems", 1783)
- Briefwechsel zwischen einem Vater und seinem Sohn auf der Akademie ("Correspondence of a father and son on the academy", 1785)
- Die Geschichte Gottfried Walthers, eines Tischlers, und des Städtleins Erlenburg ("The Story of Gottfried Walther, a joinerJoinerA joiner differs from a carpenter in that joiners cut and fit joints in wood that do not use nails. Joiners usually work in a workshop since the formation of various joints generally requires non-portable machinery. A carpenter normally works on site...
, and the little town of Erlenburg", 1786)