Hoffmann von Fallersleben was a German poet and philologist born on April 2, 1798, in Fallersleben, Germany. He is best known for writing the lyrics to the German national anthem, "Das Lied der Deutschen" (The Song of the Germans), in 1841. His work often focused on themes of nationalism and German unity during a time of political fragmentation in the country. In addition to his poetry, Hoffmann von Fallersleben was a prominent scholar of the German language and literature. He contributed to the study of German folklore and was involved in the Romanticism movement, which emphasized emotion and individualism. He passed away on January 19, 1874, in Helgoland, Germany.