Swiss poet whose work is tender and sometimes elegiac, celebrating friendship, humanity, and the serenity of nature.

In 1779 he became an officer in the Swiss guards in Paris, but he supported the ideas of the French Revolution and voluntarily remained in Paris until 1793. His poems were published in Gedichte (1793). Some of them, such as "Lied eines Landmanns in der Fremde," became anthology pieces. In 1799 he became chief of staff of the Swiss militia, taking part in the Battle of Zürich, and later filled several public offices.