Thomas Hansen Kingo

KINGO, Thomas Hansen. b. 15 December 1634; d. 14 October 1703. He was born at Slangerup, North Zealand, Denmark, the son of a weaver. He attended the newly founded grammar-school at Frederiksborg from 1650 to 1654, and after four years at the University of Copenhagen he graduated in 1658 as Master of Theology. After some years as private tutor in West Zealand, he became chaplain in 1661 at Kirke Helsinge, also in West Zealand. In 1668 Kingo was appointed as priest in his native town of Slangerup, and in 1677 he became bishop of Odense, Funen. Kingo’s earliest poetical work dates back to the middle of the 1660s. He rapidly became one of the most prominent Danish poets of the time. His style...