J. Jacques (Jean Jacques) Porchat

Born in Vandœuvres near Geneva in 1800, Porchat studied law in Lausanne and went on to teach Roman law and later Latin literature at the academy there. He also served in public life in the canton of Vaud, while building a reputation as a chansonnier, popular poet, and man of letters.

His literary work was broad: he wrote poetry, fables, and dramatic works, and he became particularly noted as a translator. One of his best-known achievements was translating the complete works of Goethe from German into French, a major project that helped carry German literature to French-speaking readers.

Readers of older adventure and moral tales may know him best through works such as Trois mois sous la neige (Three Months Under the Snow), which helped keep his name alive beyond Switzerland. Some library records list his death year incorrectly, but the biographical sources found here agree that he died in Lausanne in 1864.