Johann Frischmuth

Johann Frischmuth (18 March 1619 – 19 August 1687) was a German Orientalist.

Life Johann Frischmuth was born in Wertheim a small town and regional centre in the hills to the west of Würzburg. His father, a baker, was also called Johann Frischmuth: his mother was born Margaretha Buttel. The years 1618 to 1648 were dominated by the Thirty Years' War, as a result of which during his childhood he was moved from one place to another. It was to avoid the plague that the marauding armies brought in their wake that the family made their first move and left Wertheim. While they were living in the village of Reichenholz Frischmuth obtained schooling from the local priest. He was introduced to oriental languages by Theodor Hackspan and received his "Magister der philosophischen Wissenschaften" (loosely:"Master of Arts") degree in 1639. where he attended lectures in the Theology and Philosophy faculties. , whose library he was permitted to use, exercised a particular influence on his thinking.

Successful defence of his dissertation "de praeceptis Noachidarum" ("On the Noahide Laws") opened the way for him to start lecturing at the university. In 1647 Johannes Müller tried to lure him away to the prestigious Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums (school) in Hamburg, but he preferred to stay at Jena where he was made rector of the city school the same year.

Johann Frischmut died on 17 August 1687 in Jena. Frischmuth's second marriage, after the death of Anna Maria, was to Magdalena Pascas.

His first marriage produced fiver recorded sons and seven recorded daughters. One son and three of the daughters died young. The couple's eldest daughter was Regina Maria Frischmuth who went on to marry Friedemann Bechmann on 20 November 1666.