Ersch, Johann Samuel

Ersch, Johann Samuel

(yō`hän zä`mo͞oĕl ĕrsh), 1766–1828, German encyclopedist, first editor of the great encyclopedia known as Ersch and Gruber's. At his death, 17 volumes had been completed and he was succeeded by Johann Gottfried Gruber. Ersch is considered the father of German bibliography.