Fredrik Pacius

Fredrik Pacius (born Friedrich Pacius) (March 19, 1809, Hamburg – January 8, 1891, Helsinki) was a German composer and conductor who lived most of his life in Finland. He has been called the "Father of Finnish music". Pacius was appointed music teacher at the University of Helsinki in 1834. In Helsinki he founded a musical society, the student choir Akademiska Sångföreningen and an orchestra. In 1848 Pacius wrote the music to the poem "Vårt land" by Johan Ludvig Runeberg, which was to become Finland's national anthem.