Fredrik August Dahlgren

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Fredrik August Dahlgren (1816–1895) was a Swedish writer, playwright and songwriter. He was born in Nordmark parish, Värmland, the son of Barthold Dahlgren, a mine manager, and Anna Carolina Svensson. He finished at Karlstads gymnasium in Karlstad and studied at Uppsala University, earning a Master of Philosophy degree in 1839. In 1841 he started work at the Ministry of Education and Ecclesiastical Affairs, a post he held until 1848, then joined the National Archives. He rose through government positions, becoming chancellor in 1862, secretary of the ecclesiastical ministry in 1871, Acting Head of the Office for Health and Poverty Affairs in 1874, and Chancellor in 1878. Dahlgren was a member of the Swedish Academy from 1871 to 1895, occupying seat 6.

Dahlgren is best known for his songs. With Anders Fryxell he wrote the lyrics to Ack Värmeland, du sköna, and he also wrote the words to the Värmland folk song Jänta å ja. He wrote the text for the musical drama Värmlänningarna, with music by Andreas Randel.

He married Ulrika Magdalena von Heland. Their children included Erik Wilhelm Dahlgren, a historian who became head of the National Library of Sweden, and the writer Lotten Dahlgren. Dahlgren is buried at Norra begravningsplatsen in Stockholm.