Petter Dass

DASS, Petter. b. Northern Herøy, 1647, date unknown; d. Alstadhaug, 18 September 1707. Born at Northern Herøy in Nordland, he was the son of Peiter Pittersen Dundas (c. 1620-1654), a Scottish immigrant from Dundee, and Maren Falch (1629-1707). Following his father’s death he was taken into care by relatives and friends, and was schooled in Bergen from 1660. After study at the University of Copenhagen (1666-69) he returned to Norway, where he became tutor for the family of the parish priest of Vefsn. While in Vefsn in 1673 he was instrumental in the pregnancy of the priest’s daughter, Margrethe Andersdatter (1650-1733), and was obliged to request a pardon from the king, which was granted,...