Johan Ludvig Runeberg

Runeberg was also involved in the modernization of the Finnish Lutheran hymnal and produced many texts for the new edition.[3] • Illustration — Statue of Johan Ludvig Runeberg on Esplanadi in Helsinki, Finland

Johan Ludvig Runeberg studied at Royal Academy of Turku. Wilhelm Lagus and Johan Elias Strömborg are recorded as having studied under Johan Ludvig Runeberg. The recorded working language is Swedish and Finnish. The field of work recorded is poetry. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are poetry. Places of work recorded in the authority are Porvoo, Helsinki and Turku. Works named in the authority record are Maamme, The Elk Hunters and The Tales of Ensign Stål. Distinctions recorded are Knight of the Order of the Polar Star, Commander of the Order of the Polar Star, Commanders Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star and Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog.

• Name — Johan Ludvig Runeberg • Born — 5 February 1804 • Birthplace — Jakobstad, Sweden • Died — 6 May 1877 • Place of death — Porvoo, Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire • Spouse — Fredrika Tengström • Children — 8, including Walter

Runeberg was born into a Swedish-speaking family in Jakobstad, on the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia. His parents were sea captain Lorentz Ulrik Runeberg (1772–1828) and Anna Maria Malm (1782–1834).[6] His paternal grandfather Ludvig had moved within Sweden from the west to the east, which is now Finland, and Anna Maria Malm was born to a merchant family from Jakobstad, which probably also had their roots in Sweden.[7] As a child, Runeberg suffered from scrofula, which led to glandular swelling. His physical development slowed down due to illness so that he did not learn to walk until he was three or four years old.[8] From his father, Johan inherited a manly and brisk character, and from his mother, he inherited sensitivity and artistic talent.

At the age of eight, Runeberg was sent to live with his uncle and attend school in Oulu. Runeberg studied in the city of Vaasa and later on at the Imperial Academy of Turku, where he befriended Johan Vilhelm Snellman and Zacharias Topelius. His studies concentrated mainly on the classical languages of Latin and Greek. He earned a Master of Philosophy during 1827. He served as a tutor (1822–1826), docent at the Imperial Alexander University (1830) and teacher at the Swedish-language Helsingfors Lyceum (1831–1836). From 1837, he lived in Porvoo, where he served as professor of Latin literature in the Borgå gymnasium. Runeberg was the tutor of Carl Henrik Alopaeus, who would later become the bishop of Porvoo and an educator of the deaf. Runeberg also supported Carl Oscar Malm's school for the deaf in Porvoo (at which Alopaeus taught) as well as serving on the school board. Finnish salon hostess Natalia Castrén (1830–1881) was a member of Runeberg's cultural circle.[9]

Many of his poems deal with life in rural Finland. The best known of these is Bonden Paavo, (Farmer Paavo, Saarijärven Paavo in Finnish), about a smallholding peasant farmer in the poor parish of Saarijärvi and his determination, sisu (guts) and unwavering faith in providence in the face of a harsh climate and years of bad harvests. Three times, a frosty night destroys his crops. Every time, he mixes double the amount of bark into his bark bread to stave off starvation and works ever harder to dry off marsh into dryer land that would not be as exposed to the night frost. After the fourth year, Paavo finally gets a rich crop. As his wife exults, thanks God and tells Paavo to enjoy full bread made entirely out of grain, Paavo instructs his wife to mix bark into grain once more, because their neighbour's crop has been lost in a frost and he gives half of his crop to the needy neighbour.[12][13]

Runeberg's main works included the idealist poem "Älgskyttarna" (Elk Hunters, 1832) and the epic Kung Fjalar (King Fjalar, 1844). The heroic poem Fänrik Ståls Sägner (The Tales of Ensign Stål), Vänrikki Stoolin tarinat in Finnish) written between 1848 and 1860, is among the greatest Finnish epic poems outside the native Kalevala tradition, and contains tales of the Finnish War of 1808–09 with Russia. During the war, Sweden ignominiously lost Finland to Russia, and by the order of Alexander I, the Grand Duchy of Finland was established.

He was married to his second cousin Fredrika Runeberg, née Tengström, who wrote poems and novels. They were the parents of eight children, including the sculptor Walter Runeberg, who was their eldest son.[14][15] He also had several emotional affairs throughout his life, most notably with Maria Prytz and the younger poet Emilie Björkstén.[16] Johan Ludvig Runeberg met poet Fredrika Wenman at a school in Vaasa. Runeberg dedicated his poem to Frigga. However, the courtship ended when Runeberg left to study at the Royal Academy of Turku in 1823.[17]

The authorities additionally record the headings J. Runeberg, Johan Ludwig Runeberg and Runeberg. His recorded languages were Swedish and Finnish. His recorded confession was Lutheranism. He was the child of Lorenz Ulrik Runeberg. He married Fredrika Runeberg. 4 children are recorded: Ludvig Mikael Runeberg, Lorenzo Runeberg, Walter Runeberg and Johan Wilhelm Runeberg.

Johan Ludvig Runeberg is recorded as having received Knight of the Order of the Polar Star, Commander of the Order of the Polar Star and Commanders Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star.