Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born in Frankfurt am Main. His father, Johann Kaspar Goethe, who had left public service before his son was born, came from a wealthy family of independent means. Goethe's mother, Catharina Elisabeth Textor – her father was Mayor of Frankfurt – was a cheerful, warm-hearted woman and a good storyteller who was twenty years younger than her husband. Her son respected her and she lovingly followed his development. All Catharina Elisabeth's children except Goethe and his sister Cornelia Friederike Christiana died early.