Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Bürger, Gottfried August

BÜRGER, GOTTFRIED AUGUST, (bürg'er), a German poet, born in Molmerswende, Anhalt, Dec. 31, 1747. Shakespeare and Percy's &ldquo;Reliques of English Ballad Poetry&rdquo; had a decisive influence in giving direction to his efforts at poetic expression. &ldquo;Lenore&rdquo; (1773), established his reputation as a poet, which was sustained by the ballads that followed it, &ldquo;The Parson's Daughter,&rdquo; &ldquo;The Wild Huntsman,&rdquo; &ldquo;The Song of the Brave Man,&rdquo; &ldquo;Kaiser and Abbot.&rdquo; Specimens of his burlesque ballads are &ldquo;The Robber Count,&rdquo; &ldquo;The Wives of Weinsberg.&rdquo; He died in Göttingen, June 8, 1794.