CHAMISSO, Am-a.iiEnT VON An eminent German poet and naturalist. Although born in Champagne, France, he in childhood shared the exile of his parents. fleeing from the terrors of the French Revolution. In 1796 he became a page at the Berlin Court, and though his parents afterwards returned to France, education had made Ger any more congenial to his pordie nature, and he identified himself wholly with his adopted country. In 1798 he entered the army as ensign, and in ISOI became lieutenant, lie showed his interest in the military ()ailing by two technical treatises published in 1798 and 1799. Already lie had joined a romantic brotherhood, which in cluded several young men destined to fame, Varnhagen, Ilitzig, and Alexander zur Ile studied 'Homer dilioently, translated much into German, and in 1803 essayed a Pa nut, the only one of his early poems preserved in his ll'orks. lie also coiiperated as editor of the ilusenalmanach (1S01-07). In 1806 he resigned front the army and spent several years in futile and discontented bohemian wanderings. Ile was in France in 1806 and again in 1810. when he mulct-took to turn into French Schlegel's noted Lectures On Art and Literature, staying with Min and Madame de Staid at Chaumont, and later at Coppet, till his manners made him impossible. Ilere be was led to study botany. and in 1812 he matriculati:d as a student of medicine in Berlin. In the next year, during the War of Liberation, he retired to Kunerstlorl, and while there wrote his most noteworthy prose work, Peter Sehle M 1 hi, a wonderful tale of the loss of a shadow by compact with the devil, an idea familiar to folk b.re and already developed by Goethe in his Barehea, and by Kilmer in his Teak/ eon Sa/a niam•a, hut here given its enduring and classic burin. lie took part in Captain Kotzebue's Bus
shin Polar expedition (1815-18), and in 1835 pub fished in a dourna/ an account of it which in style and power of is among the clas sics of travel. lie returned to Berlin in 1819, and was appointed assistant custodian of the botanical garden. While here he married An toine Piaste. Having recovered an indemnity of 100,000 francs for his French estates, he visited Paris in 1825. llis greatest literary activity dates from his return, Olen he settled down to domestic life and peaceful production stimulated by the genial companionship (If his wife, to whose inspiration we Owe especially the charming poetic cycles Pranculiehr mid -Lebo), and Lebens Lirder and -Bibler, Ile also made on admirable translation of the Song of Thrym, front the Ed da, and ninny versions front other languages. From 1832 till his death lie was editor of the GPrman us•nalma»ach, which he made an ma nual of much literary importance. llis poetry is small in amount. hut widely popular in Germany. Some of his ballads and romances rank among the finest in German literature. His interna tional reputation rests on the many translations of Peter Schlemihl, His collected Works till six Vtcluittes ( Leipzig, 1836-39; 6th ed., Berlin, 15741, containing also his Biography by llitzig, and his Letters. Consult, also Fulda, Chant and seine Zeit (Leipzig, ISS1) ; and Du Bais.
Reyttiond, Os Nat urforscher (Leipzig, ISS9).