Dictionary.net

A Dutch poet and story-teller; born at Zwolle in Oberyssel. Feb. 7, 1753; died Feb. 8, 1824. Among his "Odes and Poems" (5 vols., 1796-1810) are several that show true poetic inspiration. His tragedies are: "Thirza" (1784); "Lady Jane Grey" (1791); "Inez de Castro" (1793); "Mucius Cordus" (1795); and "The Resuscitation of Lazarus" (1811). He wrote also some stories-"Julia" (1783); "Ferdinand and Constance" (1785)-which, like his odes and his didactic poem "The Count", show plainly the influence of German poetry in the "Werther" period.