Full Name: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Nickname: Goethe.

Father: Johann Kaspar Goethe (lawyer; 1710-82).
Mother: Katharina Elisabeth Textor (1731-1808).
Girlfriend: Anne Catharina Schoenkopf (1746-1810).
Wife: Christiane Vulpuis (b. 1765, m. 1806, d. 1816).
Son: August (b. 25-Dec-1789, d. 27-Oct-1830).

Date of Birth: 28 August 1749.
Birth Place: Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Date of Death: 22 March 1832 (aged 82).
Death Place: Weimar, Germany.
Cause of Death: Unspecified.
Remains/Buried: Historischer Friedhof, Weimar, Germany.

Gender: Male.
Race or Ethnicity: White.
Education: University of Leipzig (1765–68), University of Strasbourg (1770–71).
Occupation: Poet, Novelist, Playwright, Natural Philosopher, Diplomat, Civil servant.
Literary Movement: Sturm und Drang, Weimar Classicism.
Nationality: German.

Notable Work(s): Faust, The Sorrows of Young Werther, Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship, Elective Affinities, Zur Farbenlehre, Italienische Reise, Westöstlicher Diwan.

German Poet, Novelist, Playwright, Natural Philosopher, Diplomat, Civil servant and natural philosopher Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) is best known for his two-part poetic drama Faust (1808-1832). He is regarded as one of the greatest contributors to the German Romantic period. "Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship is one of the four greatest novels ever written", quoted by Arthur Schopenhauer. Ralph Waldo Emerson considered Goethe as one of six representative men along with Plato, Napoleon and William Shakespeare.

Childhood & Early Life: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born in Frankfurt am Main, Holy Roman Empire (Germany). His father, Johann Kaspar Goethe (1710-82) was a lawyer and his mother was Katharina Elisabeth Textor (1731-1808). Goethe was taught primarily by his father and private tutors, especially languages (Latin, Greek, French, Italian, English and Hebrew). Goethe became interested in literature. His early favourites author was Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock and Homer. On his father's wish, he went to Leipzig University to study law in 1765. In 1797, Goethe wrote his first play named The Lover's Caprice. In 1768 he wrote his ten poems Leipzig Songbook (1768).

Personal Life: During studying law at Leipzig University, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe fell in love with Anne Catharina Schoenkopf (1746-1810) and in 1770, he wrote a book of poems named Annette. He was living with his mistress Christiane Vulpius and the couple was a son Julius August Walter von Goethe who was born on 25 December 1789. Goethe married Christiane Vulpius in 1806.

Later Life & Death: In 1770 Goethe continued his law studies in Strasbourg. He also read anatomy, chemistry, Shakespeare, Rousseau, and architecture. He met philosopher, poet, and theologian Johann Gottfried Herder (1744-1803) daily. His first printed anthology of poems was published by Sesenheimer (1770-1771). Goethe gained his law degree and was promoted to licentiate Juris in 1771, then returned to Frankfurt and began his law practice. His first novel, Die Leiden Des Jungen Werthers was published in 1773. From 1786 to 1788, Goethe went on a journey to Italy and wrote Italian Journey, which was published in 1816. In 1808, The first part of Faust was published. Goethe's aesthetic theory was partially influenced by his friend Friedrich von Schiller (1759-1805). His works, Metamorphosis of Plants (1790) and Theory of Colors (1810) are some of his important scientific endeavours. Goethe recovered from a dreadful heart problem in 1823. In 1831 he brought Faust to an end. He died on March 22, 1832, in Weimar and was buried at Historischer Friedhof in Weimar, Germany.