Sachs, Hans, the most distinguished meistersinger of Germany in the 16th century, born in Nuremberg, Germany, Nov. 5, 1494. He learned the trade of a shoemaker, commenced business in his native city, married (1519), and prospered. He took lessons under one of the chief meistersingers of Nuremberg, made verses himself. As a staunch follower of Luther, and an ardent advocate of his teachings, Sachs succeeded in imparting to his hymns a fervor which considerably aided the spread of the Reformation. He died in Nuremberg, Jan. 19, 1576.

Entry from Everybody's Cyclopedia, 1912.