BARON BERNHARD VON

See also:

• BARON BERNHARD VON BESKOW (1796-1868)

BESKOW (1796-1868)  , Swedish dramatist and historian, son of a Stockholm merchant, was born on the 19th of April 1796 . His vocation for literature was assisted by his tutor, the poet Johan Magnus Stjernstolpe (1777-1831), whose works he edited . He entered the civil service in 1814, was ennobled in 1826 and received the title of baron in 1843 . He held high appointments at court, and was, from 1834 onwards, perpetual secretary of the Swedish academy, using his great influence with tact and generosity . His poetry is over-decorated, and his plays are grandiose historical poems in dramatic form . Among them are " Erik XIV." (2 parts, 1826); and four pieces collected (1836-1838) as Dramatiska Studier, the most famous of which is the tragedy of " Thorkel Knutsson." His works include many academical memoirs, volumes of poems, philosophy and a valuable historical study, Om Gustav den Tredje sdsom konung och menniska (5 vols . 186o-186q, " Gustavus III. as king and man "), printed in the transactions of the Swedish Academy (vols . 32, 34, 37, 42, 44) . He died on the 17th of October 1868 . See also a notice by C . D. of Wirsen in his Lefnadsieckningar (Stockholm, 1901) .