Emil Rittershaus

Friedrich Emil Rittershaus (3 April 1834 – 8 March 1897) was a German poet.

Biography
He was born in Barmen (now Wuppertal), Kingdom of Prussia. His poetry, marked by simple feeling, fine diction, and original matter, won great popularity. He died in Barmen. His daughter, Adeline, was a philologist, scholar, and champion for the equality of women.

He was a member of the Wuppertal poets' circle in the 1850s. He knew Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels and wrote several letters to them in 1867–1868.

Selected works

 * Westfalenlied (song) (Westphalia Anthem; 1886)
 * Westfalenlied (song) (Westphalia Anthem; 1886)