The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Wyss, Johann Rudolf

WYSS,, Johann Rudolf, Swiss author b. Bern, 13 March 1781; d. there, 31 March 1830. He was educated at various German universities, became professor of philosophy at Bern in 1806, and later also chief librarian. His

&lsquo;Der Schweizerische Robinson&rsquo; (1812-13), an imitation of Defoe, was translated into various languages, the first series appearing in English (&lsquo;Swiss Family Robinson&rsquo;) in 1820, the second in 1849. Wyss also wrote &lsquo;Vorlesungen über das Höchste Gut&rsquo; (1811), and &lsquo;Idyllen und Erzählungen aus der Schweiz&rsquo; (1815-22); &lsquo;Reise im Berner Oberland&rsquo; (1808); and edited the collection &lsquo;Alpenrose&rsquo; (1811-30). Wyss is the author of the Swiss national anthem, &lsquo;Rufst du, mein Vaterland?&rsquo;