LAVATER, Jomaxx KASPAR, b. Nov. 15, 1741, at Zurich, was the son of a physi cian. As a boy he was by no means distinguished for his talents; but in 1762. whilst yet a youth, he gave a signal proof of his energy and courage in coming forward, along with Henry Pilsen, to accuse the landwigt Grebel of oppression and injustice, under which others had groaned without daring to complain. He early gained a high reputa tion by a volume of poems, entitled Sellweizerlieder (Bern, 1767). His next publication was Aussielden in die Ervigkeit (3 vols. Znr: 1768-73), of which several editions were soon called for. The tone of this work is that of high, religious enthusiasm, mingled with asceticism. He filled in succession several ecclesiastical of in his native city, and finally, in 1786, became minister of the church of St. Peter there. His powers of obser vation were very keen, and his discrimination of character most delicate, and believing that he could discover much of men's characters from their countenances, he concluded that physiognomy might come to be reckoned among the sciences. He labored. there fore, to form a system of physiognomy, hoping thus to promote greatly the welfare of mankind, ana 'it last he published the work to which he owes the chief part of his celebrity, Plbyabuynomische Fragmente zur Beforderung der liensclienkenntniss and Men schenliebe (4 vols. Leip. and Winterth. 1775-78). This work, which has often been
reprinted and translated, is written in an inflated style. It gave rise to much discussion, and occasioned not a little display. of wit and humor. Lavater himself appears latterly to have been convinced that his system was fanciful. But he was of a highly imagina tive temperament, and the religious orthodoxy which he firmly retained was incongru-' nusly combined with novel speculations and with superstitious notions. He was the chosen spiritual adviser of many persons both in Switzerland and Germany, with whom he maintained an unwearied correspondence. On his tours in Germany he received extraordinary marks of popular esteem and honor. When the French revolution began, Lavater hailed it with joy; but after the murder of the king lie regarded it with relig ious abhorrence. In performing kind offices to some wounded persons on the street at the capture of Ziirich by Massena, Sept. 26, 1799, he received a wound, of the effects of which he died, after long suffering, Jan. 2, 1801.