LICHTENBERG, GEORG CHRISTOPH German satirical writer and physicist, was born at Oberramstadt, near Darmstadt, on July 1, 1742. In 1763 he entered Gottingen university, where in 1769 he became extraordinary professor of physics, and six years later ordinary professor. This post he held till his death on Feb. 24, 1799. As a physicist he is best known for his investigations in electricity, more especially as to the so-called Lichtenberg figures.
As a satirist and humorist Lichtenberg takes high rank among the German writers of the 18th century. His biting wit involved him in many controversies with well-known contemporaries, such as Lavater, whose science of physiognomy he ridiculed, and Voss, whose views on Greek pronunciation called forth a powerful satire, fiber die Pronunciation der Schopse des alten Griechen landes (1782). In 1769 and again in 1774 he resided for some time in England and his Briefe aus England (1776-78), with ad mirable descriptions of Garrick's acting, are the most attractive of his writings. He contributed to the Gottinger Taschenkalender
from 1778 onwards, and to the Gottingisches Magazin der Liter atur und Wissenschaft, which he edited for three years (1780-82) with J. G. A. Forster. He also published in an Ausfuhr liche Erklarung der Hogarthschen Kupferstiche.