Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (10 November 1759 ??9 May 1805) was a German poet, philosopher, historian, and playwright.

During the last seventeen years of his life (1788??805), Schiller struck up a productive friendship with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. They frequently discussed issues concerning aesthetics, and Schiller encouraged Goethe to finish works he left as sketches. This relationship and these discussions led to a period now referred to as Weimar Classicism.

Schiller is considered by most Germans to be Germany's most important classical playwright.