Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (/ˈlɛsɪŋ/, German: [ˈɡɔthɔlt ˈʔeːfʁa.ɪm ˈlɛsɪŋ]; 22 January 1729 – 15 February 1781) was a philosopher, dramatist, publicist and art critic, and a representative of the Enlightenment era. His plays and theoretical writings substantially influenced the development of German literature. He is widely considered by theatre historians to be the first dramaturg in his role at Abel Seyler's Hamburg National Theatre.