GEIER, ERIC GUSTAF, one of the most distinguished historians of Sweden, was b. at Itansiltter, in the Swedish lmn of Wermland, in 1783. He was sent, at the age of 16, to the university of Upsala; and in 1803 lie competed successfully for the prize. which was that year awarded by the academy of Stockholm for the best essay on the life and character of the great Swedish administrator, Sten Stare. This was the turning point of his life, for from this period he began to devote himself with zealous industry to the study of the history of his native country. His assiduity was rewarded by his speedy nomination to a post in the chamber of the national archives, and in 1810 he was elected assistant to Pant, tbe, professor of history in the university of Upsala, and in 1817, ou the death of the latter, lie succeeded to his chair. Gejer's early lectures were listened to with the profoundest interest, both by his students and the public at large, who crowded to his lecture-room; but at a subsequent period of his teaching, his popularity diminished in proportion to the increased profundity of his views; while the suspicion. hat lie harbored sceptical notions in regard to the Trinity, brought him into disfavor with a certain portion of the community. These suspicions led to his denun ciation to the university authorities; but the examination to which the charges against him gave rise terminated in his acquittal, and were even followed by the offer of a bishopric, which, however, he declined- Gejer exercised a marked influence on the poetic no less than the hiStorical literature of Sweden, and according to the testimony of his countrymen, his Sista &widen, Vikingen, Odalbonden, and other heroic pieces, place him in the foremost rank of Swedish poets, He and his friends Adlerbeth, Teg ner, and Nikander, adhered to the school of poetry, which owed its origin to "the society of the Goths." which they and several of their friends established as early as 1810. when they brought out in connection with it a miigazine entitled the Murat, in which first appeared several of Gejer's best poems, and among other productions of merit, the early cantos of Teguer's Frit/tie. Great as is the value of Gejer's historical
works, lie unfortunately did not complete any one of the vast undertakings which he planned. Thus, for instance, of the Seem Bike's Hiifder, or records of Sweden, which were to have embraced the history of his native country from mythical ages to the present time, lie finished only the introductory volume. His next great work, Svenska Polkas Historia, which was intended to form one of the series of European histories, edited by Leo and Eckert, was not .carried beyond the death of queen Christina; yet incomplete as they arc, these works rank among the moat valuable contributions to Swedish history. To Gejer was intrusted the task of examining and editing the papers which Gustavus III. had bequeathed to the university of Upsala, with the stipulation that they were not to be opened for 50 years after his death. In fulfillment of his charge, Gejer arranged these papers ju a work, which appeared in 1843 under the title of Gustaf ejlette)hfutdet Dapper, gild Which, froth the WorthleSs Miture of the con tents, disappointed the expectations of the nation, who had been led to hope that their publication would reveal state secrets of importance. During the last 10 years of his life, Gejer took an active part in politics; but although his political writings possess great merit, the very versatility of his powers diverted him from applying them methodically to the complete elaboration of any one great object. Gejer was known to his countrymen as a musician and composer of no mean order. lie lived on terms of friendly intercourse with Bernadotte, and his numerous letters to the king form part of the Samlade •rifler, or collective works, which have been published since his death by his son, who has appended to this edition, which was completed in 1853, an interest ing biographical sketch of his distinguished father. Gejer died iu 1847.