Bernhard von Beskow (19 April 179617 October 1868) was a

Swedish Swedish or ' may refer to: Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically: * Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland ** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...

dramatist and historian. Born in Stockholm and the son of a merchant, his vocation for literature was assisted by his tutor, the poet Johan Magnus Stjernstolpe (1777–1831), whose works he edited. He entered the civil service in 1814, was ennobled in 1826 and received the title of baron in 1843. He held high appointments at court, and was, from 1834 onward, perpetual secretary of the Swedish Academy, using his great influence with tact and generosity. This refers to a notice by Carl David af Wirsén in his ''Lefnadsteckningar'' (Stockholm, 1901). He was elected a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1836. He produced a series of plays based on Swedish history. He was the most respectable exponent of romantic historical play which became popular with Swedish audiences. His works include many academical memoirs, volumes of poems, philosophy and a historical study, ''Om Gustav den tredje såsom Konung och Menniska'' (5 vols, 1860–1869, ''

Gustavus III Gustav III (29 March 1792), also called ''Gustavus III'', was King of Sweden from 1771 until his assassination in 1792. He was the eldest son of Adolf Frederick of Sweden and Queen Louisa Ulrika of Prussia. Gustav was a vocal opponent of what h ...

as king and man''), printed in the transactions of the Swedish Academy (vols 32, 34, 37, 42, 44). According to the

Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition The ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' Eleventh Edition (1910–1911) is a 29-volume reference work, an edition of the '' Encyclopædia Britannica''. It was developed during the encyclopaedia's transition from a British to an American publication. S ...

: "His poetry is over-decorated, and his plays are grandiose historical poems in dramatic form. Among them are ''

Erik XIV Eric XIV ( sv, Erik XIV; 13 December 153326 February 1577) was King of Sweden from 1560 until he was deposed in 1569. Eric XIV was the eldest son of Gustav I (1496–1560) and Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg (1513–1535). He was also ruler of Est ...

'' (2 parts, 1826); and four pieces collected (1836–1838) as ''Dramatiska Studier'', the most famous of which is the tragedy of ''

Torkel Knutsson Torkel (Tyrgils or Torgils) Knutsson (d. 1306) was Lord High Constable of Sweden, member of the Privy Council of Sweden (''Riksråd''), and virtual ruler of Sweden during the early reign of King Birger Magnusson (1280–1321). Biography To ...

''." He became a member of

Pro Fide et Christianismo (full name , ) is a Christian association within the Church of Sweden. The organization was an "informal or semi-official national school board" prior to the founding of Sweden's public education system and made a significant impact on Sweden's ...

, a Christian education society, in 1852. He died in Stockholm in 1868.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beskow, Bernhard 1796 births 1868 deaths Writers from Stockholm Swedish male writers 19th-century Swedish historians Members of the Swedish Academy Members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Swedish nobility Members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts Swedish male dramatists and playwrights 19th-century Swedish dramatists and playwrights 19th-century male writers