Johann Praetorius

Johann Praetorius (also Prätorius; 27 January 1634 – 21 February 1705) was a German educator, astronomer and musician.

Biography Praetorius was born in Quedlinburg, the son of Johann Praetorius, the headteacher of the school in his hometown, which Johann the younger attended. On 29 January 1653, he began his studies at the University of Wittenberg, where he attended lectures by August Buchner on rhetoric and poetry. During this time, he also began studying theology. After recovering from an illness in Karlsbad, he attended the University of Jena, where he studied mathematics under Erhard Weigel and continued his theological studies. In 1660, he received his Master of Philosophy degree and soon after became an assistant professor in the Faculty of Philosophy. Due to his success during his time at the University of Jena, he became a private tutor at the court of Duke Ernst of Gotha and also taught mathematics at the local gymnasium.

Two years later, he became headteacher of the town school in Soest, and in 1675, headteacher of the gymnasium in Halle (Saale). He remained in this position for thirty years, during which time he transformed the gymnasium into a flourishing Lutheran educational institution. Praetorius also made a name for himself as a composer, with his oratorio "David" being performed in Halle. None of his compositions have survived. He also published a treatise on comet observation. Many students attended his school, including George Frideric Handel, , and Johann Burchard Freystein.

In 1684, he married Anne Katharina, the daughter of Samuel Mylius, the cantor at the gymnasium in Merseburg. She died in 1690 during the birth of a stillborn daughter.

Writings Carmina Programmata Argutas inscriptiones Panegyricos seromones Disputationes physicas, ethicas und politicas: Cum Appendice Depulsionis Criminationum, quae in Illam ibi hoc nomine sparguntur Programma Natalitium, Historiam exhibens Observationum Cometae Ao. 1680. mense Novembri Lipsiae primum conspecti. Halle 1680 Physica Meletemata Disputationibus Viginti Et Quinque Comprehensa.