Henrik Arnold Wergeland

Wergeland, Henrik Arnold (1808–45), Norwegian writer and nationalist. He promoted Norwegian independence from Sweden and inspired Norwegians to feel pride in their own culture. He produced much poetry, drama, and prose, but it is his poetry that received the most acclaim. Creation, Humanity, and Messiah (1830), Jan van Huysum's Flower Piece (1840), and The English Pilot (1844) are some of his best-loved poems. He was dedicated to the causes of liberty, democracy, and international cooperation.