Bernhard von Beskow

Bernhard von Beskow
Portrait (oil on canvas) by Olaf Johan Södermark (1830)

Bernhard von Beskow (April 19, 1796 in Stockholm – October 17, 1868), Swedish dramatist and historian, was the son of a Stockholm merchant.

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 works include many academical memoirs, volumes of poems, philosophy and a historical study, Om Gustav den tredje såsom Konung och Menniska (5 vols, 1860–1869, Gustavus III as king and man), printed in the transactions of the Swedish Academy (vols 32, 34, 37, 42, 44).

According to the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition: "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 Torkel Knutsson."

He was elected a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1836.

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Beskow, Bernhard von". Encyclopædia Britannica 3 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 820–821.  This refers to a notice by Carl David af Wirsén in his Lefnadsteckningar (Stockholm, 1901).