MATTHISSON, FRIEDRICH VON

born Jan. 23, 1761, Hohendodeleben, near Magdeburg, Saxony died March 12, 1831, Wrlitz, Anhalt-Dessau German poet whose verses were praised for their melancholy sweetness and pastoral descriptive passages. After studying philology at the University of Halle, Matthisson was appointed (1781) master at the once-famous Philanthropin, a seminary in Dessau, and then accepted a travelling tutorship (1784). Appointed reader and travelling companion to Princess Louisa of Anhalt-Dessau, he entered the service of the king of Wrttemberg (1812), who made him counsellor of legation and intendant of the court theatre and, later, a member of the nobility (1818) and knight of the crown of Wrttemberg. Matthisson's poems, which brought him great popularity in his time, were published as Gedichte in 1787; their melodious verse exhibits a vigour and warmth combined with delicacy and style. His poem Adelaide was set to music as a song by Beethoven. A complete, eight-volume edition of his works, Schriften, was published in 182529.