Baron of, a German poet and statesman, was of an ancient and illustrious family in Brandenburg, and born at Berlin in 1654, five months after his father's death. After his early studies, he travelled to France, Italy, Holland, and England; and upon his return to his country, was charged with important negotiations by Frederic II. Frederic III. employed him also. Canitz united the statesman with the poet; and was conversant in many languages, dead as well as living. His German poems were published for the tenth time, 1730, in 8vo. He is said to have taken Horace for his model, and to have written purely and delicately. But he did not content himself with barely cultivating the fine arts in himself; he gave all the encouragement he could to them in others. He died at Berlin, in 1699, privy counsellor of state, aged 45.