JOHANN HEINRICH, a highly distinguished German scholar, was born in 1731 at Sommersdorf, near Mecklenburg. His early education was received at the petty town of Penzlin, where he exhibited such a propensity for learning, that his father, though ill able to afford the expense, sent him to the public school of New Brandenburg. Here he distinguished himself by several very successful attempts at cultivating German poetry, and by the indomitable perseverance with which he applied himself to the study of Greek. He was, of course, anxious to complete the training on which he had entered by going to a university, but his poverty interposed an insurmountable obstacle. Unable in any other way to procure the necessary funds, he accepted the post of tutor in a private family, where he found time, in spite of six hours daily labour, and amid much insulting treatment, to continue his application to poetry and Greek. At length, in 1772, through the kindness of a literary gentleman who had seen some of his poems, he was enabled to enter the University of Göttingen. At first he intended to study theology, but he subsequently altered his aims, and applied himself to philology. Heyne, the celebrated critic, was then professor at Göttingen, and it was expected that his assistance might have materially aided the progress of Voss. At first Heyne received him with kindness; but the king of critics, like more vulgar monarchs, could bear no rival near his throne, and Voss was obstinate in defending his opinions when they differed from Heyne's. Their intimacy subsided, and a quarrel ensued, which broke out on various subsequent occasions with unseemly violence. Voss was now well known as a scholar of rare ability, and in 1778 he received the appointment of rector of the public school at Otterndorf. It was while he occupied this post that he gave to the world his first great work, his translation of the Odyssey, into German hexameters. This appeared in 1781, and all the great critics at once recognised it as a work of sterling merit. It has never been superseded in Germany, and has remained ever since the grand source from which his countrymen have become familiarized with the works of the Greek bard. The next year, the climate of Otterndorf having been found unhealthy, he removed to Eutin, as rector of the gymnasium there. He still continued to prosecute his favourite pursuits. In 1789 he published an edition of the Georgics, with a German translation, and commentaries, of which Niebuhr has said they leave nothing for future commentators to effect. A few years later he completed his version of the works of Homer by the publication of the Iliad; and this was followed by a revised edition of the Odyssey, embodying an extensive alteration of its character, as to the merits of which critics are divided in opinion. His poetical labours were varied by investigations in classical geography and mythology, on the latter of which subjects he published his Mythologische Briefe (Letters on Mythology), mainly in opposition to the views maintained by Heyne. A version of the Elegies, and shortly afterwards of the Aeneid, was followed by a collection of original poetry, with an accompanying essay on German Prosody. His health had been undermined by his incessant labours, and he became unable for the duties of his office; but, through the kindness of the Duke of Holstein, he was allowed to retire to Jena with a considerable pension. At Jena he composed his famous review of Heyne's Homer. In 1805, the Elector of Baden invited him to settle at Heidelberg, to assist in remodelling the university there. The proposal was made in an extremely liberal manner, and Voss accordingly complied with it. The climate of Heidelberg restored his health, and he resumed his literary labours. He produced, in rapid succession, translations of Horace, Hesiod, Theocritus, Bion, Tibullus, and Aristophanes. At the age of sixty-eight, still indefatigable in his labours, he commenced a translation of Shakspeare, which, however, was not very successful. A work on the ancient mythology, and some pamphlets against the Roman Catholics, produced by the conversion of one of his friends to that faith, completed the labours of Voss. He died at Heidelberg in 1830. His merits have found a universal acknowledgment; in criticism he ranks with Lessing and Wolf; as a translator, few Germans can be compared with him; and he is entitled to a high rank as a poet. Accounts of his life and writings have been printed by Paulus and Schmid.