GEIJER, gf6r, Eric Gustaf, Swedish his torian, composer and poet: b. Ransater, Werm land, 12 Jan. 1783; d. Stockholm, 23 April 1847. Beginning to lecture at Upsala in 1810, he was elected in 1815 assistant professor, and in 1817 professor of history at Upsala. Geijer exer cised a marked influence no less on the poetic than on the historical literature of Sweden.
Great as is the value of Geijer's historical works, he unfortunately did not complete any one of the vast undertakings which he planned. Thus, of the 'Svea Rikes Hafder,) or 'Records of Sweden) (1825), which were to have em braced the history of his native country from mythical ages to the present time, he finished only the introductory volume. This, however, is a thoroughly good critical inquiry into the sources of legendary Swedish history. His next great work, 'Svenska Folkets Historia' (1832-36), was not carried beyond the death of Queen Christina. Of his other historical and political works may be mentioned Condi tion of Sweden from the Death of Charles XII to the Accession of Gustavus III> (1838), and 'Feudalism and Republicanism' (1844).
During the last 10 years of his life Geijer 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 special subject. He was also known to his countrymen as a musician and composer of no mean order and a poet of note. His collected works were published by his son, with a biographical sketch (13 vols., 1849-56). Some of his best poems appeared in /duna, a magazine in which Geijer and his friends were interested. As a musician he set many of his own songs to music which caught the public fancy and were very popular. He was also a writer of excellent hymns. Consult Carlson, 'Biography of Eric Gustaf Geijer' (1870); Malmstroem, of Geijer' (1848); Niek sen, 'Erik Gustaf Geijer) (1902).