August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben

August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (help·info) (April 2, 1798 - January 19, 1874), who used Hoffmann von Fallersleben (help·info) as his pen name, was a German poet. He is best known for writing "Das Lied der Deutschen", which is now the national anthem of Germany, and a number of popular children's songs. Hoffmann was born in Fallersleben (today Wolfsburg), Brunswick-Lüneburg, then part of the Holy Roman Empire. The son of a merchant and Mayor of his native city