Petter Dass

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Petter Dass (born in 1647, died September 18, 1707) was the foremost poet and hymn writer of his generation.

He was born at Northern Herøy, Nordland, Norway. His father was Peter Dundas from Dundee, Scotland. His mother was Maren Falch. His father died in 1653, when Petter was 6, and the children were cared for by relatives and friends. His mother remarried, but Petter remained with his mother's sister, Anna Falck, who was married to the priest at Nærøy.

At 13, Petter began attending school in Bergen, and later studied theology in Copenhagen. He was lonely and impoverished during his years in Copenhagen, but intellectually stimulated.

After his years in Copenhagen, he returned to Norway and became a tutor in Vefsn. He fathered a child out of wedlock, and had to travel to Copenhagen and seek pardon form the Danish king. In 1689 he was appointed parish priest at Alstahaug.

He is known as a parish priest in Alstahaug, and writer of texts and hymns. His most famous work is the versified topographical description of northern Norway, Nordlands Trompet (The Trumpet of Nordland), and some psalms still in use, most prominently Herre Gud, ditt dyre navn og ære (Good Lord, thy precious name and glory).

Petter Dass was after his death, and is to some extent still, subject of much folklore of Nordland. The legend of how he fooled the devil to carry him to Copenhagen to preach for the king is one of many tales.