Background
Friedrich von Matthisson was born at Hohendodeleben near Magdeburg, the son of the village pastor, on the 23rd of January 1761.
Friedrich von Matthisson was born at Hohendodeleben near Magdeburg, the son of the village pastor, on the 23rd of January 1761.
Friedrich von Matthisson's best known poem is probably Adelaide, which was set to music by Beethoven. After studying theology and philology at the university of Halle, he was appointed in 1781 master at the classical school Philanthropinum in Dessau. This once famous seminary was, however, then rapidly decaying in public favor, and in 1784 Matthisson was glad to accept a travelling tutorship.
After Princess Louisa's death in 1811, Friedrich von Matthisson entered the service of the king of Württemberg, was ennobled, created counselor of legation, appointed intendant of the court theatre and chief librarian of the royal library at Stuttgart. He resided for a time in Italy. In 1828 he retired and settled at Wörlitz near Dessau, where he died on the 12th of March 1831.
Matthisson's (German: Schriften) appeared in eight volumes (1825-1829), of which the first contains his poems, the remainder his Erinnerungen. A ninth volume was added in 1833 containing his biography by Heinrich Döring.