BURGER, GOTTFRIED AUGUST, one of the most popular German poets, was b. Jan. 1. 1744, at Molmcrswende, near Halberstadt, in Prussian Saxony. In his boyhood, he displayed no capacity for hard study, and was particularly averse to Latin; but he at the same time showed a relish for verse, though destitute of any other model than the Psalm book. In 1764, he went to Halle, and applied himself to theology. In 1768, he aban doned this science for jurisprudence, which he studied at G6ttingen. Here his conduct was careless and immoral, and he would probably have sunk into obscurity, if the inti macy which he happily formed with Voss, the two Stolbergs, and other young poets, had not stirred up his better nature, and inspired him with an earnest ambition to excel. He labored hard at the classics of ancient and modern times, but the study of Shakespeare and Percy's Relives had the greatest influence in deciding the style of poetry which he was to adopt. With regard to the intrinsic merits of his poems, which consist chiefly of ballads and songs, even German critics—such as Schiller, Gervinus, and Vilmar—differ widely in their opinions; but all agree in praising the popular style and fluent, spirited versification of his ballads, Leonora, Lenardo and Blandine, the Parson's Daughter of laubenhayn, the Wild Huntsman, etc. B.'s life was spent in great poverty and misery,
partly the result of misfortune, and partly induced by his own errors. He married thrice, in two instances very unhappily; lost his property by an unfortunate speculation; and, though the favorite poet of the German people, was left to earn his bread by trans lations and similar literary labors. He died June 8, 1794. Though a popular writer, B. was very careful as to style, and was one of the first who wrote good hexameter verse in German. Since 1798, there have been numerous complete and partial editions of his works. See B.'s life by During (1826), and by Pr6hle (1856).