The American Cyclopædia (1879)/Matthisson, Friedrich von

MATTHISSON, Friedrich von, a German lyric poet, born near Magdeburg, Jan. 23, 1761, died near Dessau, March 12, 1831. Having developed considerable talents as a poet, and gained great popularity, he was patronized by various German princes, but retired from court life in 1824. His &ldquo;Elegy in the Ruins of an Old Castle&rdquo; is one of his finest lyrics. He edited selections from the lyric poets of Germany under the title of Lyrische Anthologie (20 vols., Zürich, 1803-'7). His Erinnerungen and Schriften were published at Zürich (5 vols., 1810-'16, and 8 vols., 1825-'31), and his posthumous works at Berlin (4 vols., 1832).