Wilhelm Hey

Born in Leina in 1789, Wilhelm Hey studied theology in Jena and Göttingen and went on to serve as a Lutheran pastor. His work joined religious life with a gift for simple, memorable language, which made his writing especially appealing to children and families.

He became widely known for Fünfzig Fabeln für Kinder and its sequel, collections of animal fables written for young readers. These pieces were warmly received in the 19th century and are still the works most closely associated with his name.

Hey also wrote hymns and children's songs, and he later served as court preacher in Gotha and superintendent in Ichtershausen, where he died in 1854. Today he is remembered less as a public figure than as a writer whose gentle moral tone and easy rhythm gave his poems lasting charm.