He was born in Rouffach in Alsace on August 8, 1518, the son of Theobald Wolffhart and Elizabeth Kürsner, sister of the Protestant theologian Conrad Pellicanus. He later changed his German name, Wolffhart, to the humanist name Lycosthenes.

From 1535 to 1539, Conrad studied philosophy in Heidelberg. In 1542, he left Heidelberg for Basel where he began teaching Grammar and Dialectics. In 1545, at the age of 27, he became Deacon in the Church of Saint - Leonard. On December 21, 1554, he suffered from hemiplegia and lost the ability to use his right hand. He learned to write with his left hand and continued his literary works until his death from apoplexia on March 25, 1561, at the age of 43. In the meantime he had married Chretienne Herbster, sister of the famous Basel book printer Johannes Oporinus (Oporin) and widow of Leonard Zwinger, father of Theodor Zwinger, author of the Theatrum vitae humanae.

He belongs among the numerous polyhistors of the 16th century. He mastered Latin and Greek and was particularly fond of curiosities. His varied works include editions, translations and compilations.