Background
Johann Heinrich Merck was born on the 11th of April, 1741 in Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany.
journalist literary critic writer
Johann Heinrich Merck was born on the 11th of April, 1741 in Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany.
Johann Heinrich Merck studied law at Gießen, and in 1767 was given an appointment in the paymaster's department at Darmstadt, and a year later himself became paymaster.
For a number of years Johann Heinrich Merck exercised considerable influence upon the literary movement in Germany. He helped to found the Frankfurter gelehrte Anzeigen in 1772, and was one of the chief contributors to Nicolai's Allgemeine Bibliothek. In 1773 he accompanied the Landgravine Karoline of Hesse-Darmstadt to Saint Petersburg, and on his return was a guest of the duke Charles Augustus of Weimar in the Wartburg.
Merck distinguished himself mainly as a critic. His keen perception, critical perspicacity and refined taste made him a valuable guide to the young writers of the Sturm und Drang. He also wrote a number of small treatises, dealing mostly with literature and art, especially painting, and a few poems, stories, narratives and the like.
But they have not much intrinsic importance. Merck's letters are particularly interesting and instructive, and throw much light upon the literary conditions of his time. Merck's Ausgewählte Schriften zur schönen Literatur und Kunst were published by A Stahr in 1840, with a biography.
Johann Heinrich Merck was a prominent writer and critic, who provided valuable guidance to the young writers of the Sturm und Drang ("Storm and Stress") movement of the late 18th century.
