Johannes Ewald

Johannes Ewald (18 November 1743 – 17 March 1781) was a Danish national dramatist and poet. The lyrics of a song from one of his plays are used for one of the Danish national anthems, Kong Christian stod ved højen mast. Normally regarded as the most important Danish poet of the second half of the 18th century, he led a short and troubled life, marked by alcoholism and poor health.

Biography

He was born in Copenhagen, the son of a pietist vicar, Enevold Ewald, the grandson of pietist Marie Wulf. He was fatherless from an early age. At 15 he ran away and enlisted in the Prussian service. Being compelled to join a regiment of artillery at Magdeburg, instead of being attached to the hussars as he had been promised, he deserted the Prussian standard in the Seven Years' War, and entered the Austrian service. After a few months he again deserted, returned home and began to apply himself seriously to theology.

He was educated as a theologian, but his real interest was in literature. An unhappy love for a girl, Arendse, inspired his later poetry deeply (his description of this love is the first "modern" Danish poetic treatment of the subject).