, the celebrated physiognomist, was born at Zurich, Nov. 15, 1741.
, the celebrated physiognomist, was born at Zurich, Nov. 15, 1741. He was from
his earliest years of a gentle, timid disposition, but restless in the pursuit of knowledge. At school he was perpetually varying his studies by attempting mechanical operations, and often showed indications of genius and invention in his amusements. When he reached the upper
classes of school, his diligence in study was encouraged by
the advice of Bodmer and Breitenger, and quickened by a
wish to emulate some school -fellows of superior talent.
His turn of thinking was original, liberal, and manly. As
he grew up he wrote some essays on subjects of morals and
religion, which gained him the hearts of his countrymen.
Having gone through the usual course of reading and instruction for the ecclesiastical profession, he was admitted
into orders in May 1761, and two years afterwards he travelled with the brothers Hess, two amiable friends, of whom
death deprived him, and, with Henry Fuseli, our celebrated painter. They went over Prussia, under the tuition
of professor Sulzer, and Lavater made a considerable stay
with Spalding, then curate of Barth in Pomeranian Prussia, and afterwards counsellor of the grand consistory. On
his return to Zurich he became a very eloquent and much
admired preacher, and proved himself the father of his flock
by the most benevolent attention to their wants bodily and
mental. After having been for some years deacon of th
Orphans’ church, he was in 1774 appointed first pastor. In
1778 the parishioners of the church of St. Peter, the only
persons in the canton of Zurich who have a right to chuse
their own minister, made choice of Lavater as deacon;
and, in 1786, as first pastor. Here he remained, intenton
the duties of his office, and on his physiognomical studies
until Zurich was stormed in 1797. On this occasion he was
wounded by a Swiss soldier, on whom he had conferred
important benefits; from the effects of this he never recovered, although he lived in full possession of his faculties
till Jan. 2, 1801, when he expired in the sixtieth year of
his age. His principal works are, 1. “Swiss Songs,
” which
he composed at the desire of the Helvetic society, aud
which were sung in that society, and in other cantons. 2.
Three collections of “Spiritual Songs, or Hymns,
” and
two volumes of “Odes,
” in blank verse. 3. “Jesus Messiah, or the Evangelists and Acts of the Apostles,
” 4 vols. a
poetical history of our Saviour, ornamented with 72 engravings from his designs, executed by Chodoweiki, Lips,
&c. 4. “A Look into Eternity,
” which being severely
criticised by Gothe, Lavater, who loved truth in every
shape, instead of being offended at the liberties he took,
sought out the author, and became his friend and correspondent. 5. “The secret Journal of a Self-Observer,
”
which was published here in