Johan Herman Wessel (6 October 1742-29 December 1785) was a Norwegian poet and playwright of the 18th century.
Biography[]
Johan Herman Wessel was born in Vestby, Akershus, Norway in 1742, the grand-nephew of naval hero Peter Tordenskjold. He lived most of his bohemian life in Copenhagen, Denmark, and he wrote satirical and humorous poems, many of which mocked injustices such as a village smith being pardoned for manslaughter because his village needed a smith. He died in 1785.