Johann Karl Christoph Nachtigal (25 February 1753, in Halberstadt – 21 June 1819, in Halberstadt) was a German Protestant theologian and philologist. His best-known publication is Peter the Goatherd; the folk tale became the model for Washington Irving´s first short story Rip Van Winkle.
He studied philology and theology at the University of Halle, and afterwards worked as a schoolteacher at the Stephaneum in Halberstadt. In 1800 he was named school rector, and during the same time period, was appointed to the consistory. In 1802 he became ecclesiastical superintendent of the Principality of Halberstadt and the counties of Hohenstein and Mansfeld.
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