Ratschky, Joseph Franz von#

b. Vienna, Aug. 21, 1757, d. Vienna, May 31, 1810, poet and writer of epics, playwright and satirist, originally civil servant. Entered the civil service in 1776; in 1777 founded the "Wienerischen (from 1786 Wiener) Musen-Almanach", which existed until 1796 and was later published by G. von Leon. Vienna's most renowned writers contributed to this publication from the early 1780s on. Member of the Freemasons' lodge "Zur wahren Eintracht". R. had great success with his comic-satirical epic "Melchior Striegel" (1793-1795), in which he regarded the French Revolution from a Josephine point of view.

Literature#