I lived from 1807-1845.
I was from Iceland, and am in the European category.
Jónas Hallgrímsson was born in 1807 at Steinsstaoir in Eyjafjaroarsysla on the northern part of the island of Iceland. He was educated at the famous Latin School at Bessastaor where he studied Latin and Greek classics for six years. He then went on to study at the University of Copenhagen in 1832. His interests turned to science and he studied geology. He traveled throughout Iceland from 1837-1842 making geological observations. He also developed a great interest in poetry and was well read in Danish and German poetry. He found Icelandic poetry to be lacking and reformed it through his poetic gifts and scientific eye for detail and observation. No poet has described Icelandic nature as beautifully as Jónas.
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Jónas is the most admired poet in Iceland. He helped found romanticism in Iceland and a new school of poets which pioneered a new movement in Icelandic poetry. He helped found Fjölnir, an Icelandic magazine, which was first published in Copenhagen in 1835. This magazine was used to invoke nationalism in the hopes of inciting resistance to Danish rule. His writing helped encourage the people’s determination to achieve political independence. Hallgrímsson was called the poet of Icelandic consciousness.
Jónas was ahead of his time as a poet and also as a scientist. Besides his unparalleled skills as a poet, he was a masterful writer of prose in both Icelandic and Danish. He believed in the four cardinal virtues of Utility, Beauty, Truth, and Morality, and his pursuit of these four ideals motivated much of his creative work. His quest for truth produced penetrating and perceptive poetry.
Hallgrímsson died in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1845. His refusal to have his leg treated, after breaking it, resulted in blood poisoning which cost him his life.
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