Sándor Petöfi (1823--1849) was the foremost 19th century Hungarian lyricist. He was a master of the Magyar language, the native language of Hungary. His poems celebrated nature, life's joys and sorrows, the Hungarian people, married love, and later in his life, political freedom. Petöfi was a leader in the 1848--1849 Hungarian War of Independence. He died in battle.

Sándor Petöfi was born on January 1, 1823, in the rural community of Kiskörös, Hungary. His father, István Petrovics, was an innkeeper and butcher and his mother Mária Hruz, was the daughter of artisans and peasants. Petöfi had a brother, István, who was two years younger. The family moved to Fâlegyháza when Petöfi was a child and he always considered that city to be...