The American Cyclopædia (1879)/Wergeland, Henrik Arnold

WERGELAND, Henrik Arnold, a Norwegian poet, born in Christiansand, June 17, 1808, died in Christiania, Aug. 12, 1845. He became director of the university library in Christiania, and in 1840 of the national archives. He was for a long time the most popular dramatic and especially lyric poet of Norway, but had many controversies with Welhaven and other opponents of his provincialism. He zealously advocated the rights of the Jews. His collected works are in 9 vols. (Christiania, 1852-'7). Select editions appeared in 1846 and 1859, and his biography by Lassen in 1867.