Christoph Martin Wieland was born on September 5, 1733 in Oberholzheim, now part of Achstetten, Germany and died on January 20, 1813 at the age of 79 in Weimar, Germany. 

In 1771 he was 38 years old, the height of his career as a poet and a writer. At this age, he was in a period of creativity and intellectual exploration. This year was marked by several key endeavors and achievements. Wieland’s breakthrough came with the publication of "Der goldene Spiegel" (The Golden Mirror) in 1772, a satirical novel that established him as a leading figure in German literature, which he had worked on since 1771. In addition to his novels, he was also known for his poetry. He translated classical and historical literature to the German audience. He published translations of Horace, Lucian, Cicero, and Shakespeare.

His father was a pastor who took great influence in Wieland’s early life and education. He provided him with a strong foundation in classical education and instilled a deep appreciation for literature and philosophy.

Wieland’s formal education began at a town school in Biberach, which was followed by studies at the Kloster Berge in Magdeburg. His father’s connections and insistence on a rigorous education paved the way for his enrollment at the University of Tübingen in 1750. He studied law, philosophy and literary studies. His academic journey was marked by a profound engagement with the works of classical authors as well as contemporary Enlightenment thinkers. 

He lived through a dynamic period in European history and witnessed the Enlightenment and its profound impacts on society and culture. Wieland left behind a legacy as one of the most influential German writers and thinkers of the 18th century. His early writings were characterized by a blend of poetry and prose, heavily influenced by the ideals of the Enlightenment. He engaged in themes of faith and devotion initially but his later work explores more romantic themes. 

After completing his education, between 1769 and 1772, Wieland worked as a philosophy professor at the University of Erfurt. He continued to write, publishing works such as "Agathon" (1766) and "Musarion," (1768) which explored themes of love, virtue, and human nature. His translations, including a notable German version of Shakespeare's plays, made literature more accessible to the German-speaking audience. 

In addition to his literary achievements, Wieland also made significant contributions as a publisher and editor. He founded the influential literary and cultural journal "Der Teutsche Merkur" in 1773, which became a platform for Enlightenment ideas, essays, reviews, and literary works from intellectuals of the time. His role as editor allowed him to shape the philosophical and political discourse during the German Enlightenment.