August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben

August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (born as August Heinrich Hoffmann in Fallersleben near Brunswick April 2, 1798 - January 19, 1874) was a German poet.

The son of a merchant studied theology and philology in Göttingen. In 1823, he became librarian in Breslau, where he became professor for German language and literature in 1830.

In 1841, staying on Helgoland, he wrote the poem Das Lied der Deutschen, which eventually became the German national anthem, set to a tune by Joseph Haydn. Due to the liberal ideas he advocated, he was forced to leave the country, but was rehabilitated and returned in 1848.

Fallersleben died at Corvey, Westphalia.