Johan Olof Wallin, 1779-1839, was a Swedish minister, orator, poet and later Archbishop of Uppsala, Sweden. He is most remember today for his hymns. 1779 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1839 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Orator is a Latin word for speaker (from the Latin verb oro, meaning I speak or I pray). In ancient Rome, the art of speaking in public (Ars Oratoria) was a professional competence especially cultivated by politicians and lawyers. ... Uppsala Cathedral seen from the other side of the river. ... See also hymn - a program to decrypt iTunes music files. ...

Early life

He was born in Stora Tuna i Dalarna, Sweden, as the oldest son in a large family, and went to school in Falun. His parents did not have much money, but because he was a bright student he managed to get enrolled at the University of Uppsala in 1799. Four years later he obtained his Master of Arts, and after another three years he was ordained minister. Dalarna is the name of a geographical region in Sweden which can refer to: Dalecarlia, or Dalarna - a historical Province of Sweden Dalarna County, or Dalarnas län - a current County of Sweden This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same... Falun is a Municipality in Dalarna County, in central Sweden. ... Uppsala University Uppsala University (Swedish Uppsala universitet) is a public university in Uppsala, Sweden. ... A masters degree is an academic degree usually awarded for completion of a postgraduate course of one or two years in duration. ...

While he was studying, he got his first poem published in Upsala tidningar (1802). The following years he wrote and translated several other poetic works, and received several awards from the Swedish Academy for his work. Among his awarded works were translatations of Horatio and Virgil; and for a song about Gustav III he was awarded the high sum of 200 ducats. His poetry was however by some considered too rhetorical and out-dated compared to the then flourishing Romantic poets. Wallin did not take the criticism light-hearted, and adapted to the new style which was more emotional and less influenced by the Latin poets. The Swedish Academy or Svenska Akademien, founded in 1786 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. ... Horatio is a city located in Sevier County, Arkansas. ... For other uses see Virgil (disambiguation). ... Gustav III (13 January 1746 (O.S.) (24 January 1746 (N.S.))–March 29, 1792) was the King of Sweden from February 12, 1771 until his death. ... The ducat was a gold coin that was used throughout Europe. ... Rhetoric (from Greek ρητωρ, rhêtôr, orator) is one of the three original liberal arts or trivium (the other members are dialectic and grammar). ... The specific use of Romantic poetry varies, but the most common definition is a movement in poetry seeking formal freedom, increased emotional effect and use of ancient and folk sources for poetry. ... Latin poets whose work has survived from antiquity: Ausonius Calpurnius Catullus Claudian Ennius Gallus Horace Juvenal Lucan Lucretius Manilius Martial Nemesianus Ovid Persius Propertius Rutilius Namatianus Statius Tibullus Virgil Later Latin poets: Petrarch Categories: Roman era writers | Lists of poets ...

Clerical work

In 1810 he married Anna Maria Dimander. In the same year, he was elected into the Swedish Academy. In addition to this, he took upon himself to commission the creation of a new Swedish book of hymns. The project was finished in 1816. It was approved by King in 1819, and printed the same year. Of the 500 hymns, Wallin had written 128, translated 23, and involved in the revision in another 178. Not to forget that the structure of the hymnal was mainly his creation.

He held many different clerical posts throughout his life. Ultimately he was ordained Archbishop of Sweden in 1837. However, before he even had moved to Uppsala, he died a sudden death in 1839, and was buried in Stockholm. The Swedish Biographical Dictionary (1906) writes that he at his death was "mourned by the entire Swedish people". The Swedish Literatur in Summary (1904) writes that no Swedish orator or preacher ever had his distinctive glow as a speaker.

He was undoubtedly a talented person in literature and a most pious man. But he was weak in body, and he suffered from a guilt complex since he had to care about his underpriviliged siblings and parents, and because he had to break an engagement to marry his wife Anna Maria. It made him self-critical, and he often accepted to do anything others requested, which may have deteriorated his health.

Legacy

During the remainder of the 19th century he was highly beloved and praised by writers and intellectuals in Sweden. In some places his 100th anniversary was celebrated in 1879. A monument of him was also erected in his hometown, and a bust of him was unveiled in Falun in 1917. During the 20th century, the harsh Lutheranism was being increasingly scorned in Sweden as being oppressive and guilt strucken, and this in combination with the ongoing secularization has diminished his reputation, and today he is only remembered for those hymns still in use in Swedish Churches. Among them the traditional christmashymn Var hälsad, sköna morgonstund. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Lutheran movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity by the original definition. ... Secularization, as understood by sociologists of religion, is a varied term with multiple definitions and levels of meaning. ...

Wallin wrote several poems highly praised in his time, not only Christian, and several sermons and speeches; and of his hymns several are still in use in Swedish hymnbooks today. A few of them have also been translated into English and have been published in hymnals such as the Lutheran Book of Worship. Among them are Var hälsad sköna morgonstund (Translated as: All Hail to you, O blessed morn), a hymn used at christmas; Du som fromma hjärtan vårdar (Translated as: Christians, while on Earth abiding); and Vi lova Dig, O Store Gud (Translated as: We worship you, O God of might). A sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. ...

His style is described as melancholic but ravishing, often dealing with death, with frequent references and quotes from the Bible. His grand work was the long poem Angel of Death, finished only about year before his death. Compared to contemporary poets, he is considered second only to Esaias Tegnér. Esaias Tegnér Esaias Tegnér (November 13, 1782 - November 2, 1846), Swedish writer, was born at Kyrkerud in Wermelandia. ...

As an example of his prose, this is a non-poetic translation of the opening paragraphe of his Angel of Death:

 Ye Children of Adam, born from dust, and to dust return! Ye be mine, ye be Death's, since sin cameth to Earth Standing in East Stretching to West A thousand voices, guests of time! I bring you the Holy Words From air and flames, sea and earth 

External links

This article contains content from the Owl Edition of Nordisk familjebok, a Swedish encyclopedia published between 1904-1926 now in Public Domain. From Nordisk Familjebok, resized and a little cut This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years or more. ... The Owl Edition Nordisk familjebok is a Swedish encyclopedia, published between 1876 and 1957. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ...

• Svenskt Biografiskt Handlexikon (1906), in Swedish
• Hymnuts's biography on Wallin "The homepage for the hymnuts of the world"
• Nordiskt familjelexikon article Wallin, Johan Olof. In Swedish.

Uppsala Cathedral seen from the other side of the river. ... Carl Fredrik af Wingård (born 26 September 1781 in Stockholm dead 19 September 1851) was a Swedish politician and Archbishop of Uppsala, Sweden, 1839–1851. ... The Swedish Academy or Svenska Akademien, founded in 1786 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. ... This is a list of members of the Swedish Academy by seat number. ...