Bassler, Johann Leonhard

Bassler, Johann Leonhard a Lutheran theologian of Germany, was born Dec. 19, 1745, at Memmingen. He acted as pastor at different places, until in 1788 he was obliged to retire on account of broken health, and accepted a call as head. of the lyceum in his native place, where he died, Oct. 9, 1811. He is the author of Geistliche Liede fur's Landvolk (Leipsic, 1778; 3d ed. 1782). Some of his hymns are still to be found in modern hymn-books. See Koch, Geschichte des deutschen Kirchenliedes, 6:224. (B. P.)