Meyer, Edvard

Danish journalist and author; born Aug. 6, 1813, in Copenhagen; died there Aug. 4, 1880. He was the son of very poor parents and received little or no education during his boyhood, which he spent in a Jewish charitable institution. At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to a wood-turner in Kjöge, and spent several years at this trade. In 1837 he established a weekly journal, the "Kallundborg Ugeblad," which in 1839 was incorporated with another paper. In 1841 Meyer returned to Copenhagen, where he started a humorous weekly, "Friskytten," and later a sensational daily, "Flyveposten," which latter for some years yielded him an annual income of nearly 50,000 Danish crowns. After many vicissitudes Meyer ended his days as he had begun them—in a Jewish charitable institution.

Of his many writings may be mentioned: "Poetisk Nysepulver" (Copenhagen, 1826); "Conversation" (ib. 1839), four pamphlets; "Danske Folkesange" (ib. 1839), Danish popular melodies; "Digte og Eventyr" (ib. 1842), poems and fairy-tales.

Bibliography:

  * C. F. Bricka, Dansk Biografisk Lexicon;
  * Erslew's Forfatter-Lexicon.



S. F. C.