Adelbert von Chamisso

Adelbert von Chamisso (1781–1838), born Louis Charles Adélaïde de Chamisso de Boncourt, was a German poet and naturalist of French origin. He was born at Boncourt Castle in Champagne and died in Berlin. He initially served as a Prussian officer before turning to the natural sciences. From 1815 to 1818, he took part as a naturalist in the Russian Rurik expedition, a voyage around the world. His best-known works include the novella »Peter Schlemihl’s Remarkable Story« (1814) and the ballad »Das Riesenspielzeug« (1831). Although French was his first language, he wrote important works in German.