HEIBERG, JouANN LUDVIG, 1791-1860; a Danish critic and poet, son of Peter Andrea Heiberg, the political writer, and of the famous novelist afterwards the baroness Gyllembourg-Ehrensvard. Johann was educated at the university of Copenhagen. In 1812 he visited Sweden and made some stay in Stockholm. In 1813 his first publication appeared, a romantic drama for children, entitled The Theater for Marionettes. This was followed by Christmas Jokes and New Year's Tricks. The Imitation of Psyche, and The Prophecy of Tycho Brahe. These works were looked upon as the opening of a great career. In 1817 Heiberg took his degree, and in 1819 went abroad with a grant from government. In 1822 he published his drama of Nina, and was made professor of the Danish language at the university of Kiel, where he delivered a course of lectures, com paring the Scandinavian mythology as found in the Edda with the poems of Oehlen sehliiger. In 1825 he went to Copenhagen for the purpose of introducing the vaudeville
on the Danish stage. In 1828 he brought out the national drama of Elver/60i; in 1835 the comedy of The Elves, and in 1838 pinta Morgana. In 1841 he published a volume of New Poems, containing A Soul after Death, perhaps his masterpiece, and other pieces. He founded the Copenhagen Flying Post in 1827, and continued until 1837. In 1831 he married Johanne Louise Pmtges, the greatest actress that Scandinavia has produced. His scathing satire at last begun to make him unpopular; and Ibis antagonism reached its height when in 1845, he published his little malicious drama of The Nut Cracker. He received, however, in 1847 the responsible post of director of the national theater. He filled it for seven years, but resigned in 1854.