 A key figure was the Swedish speaking Johan Ludvig Runeberg (1804–1877), was established himself as Finlands national poet, a distinction he has kept into modern times.His most important work was The Tales of Ensign Stål (1848–1860), an epic poem about the Finnish War (1808–1809), the first verse of which became Finland's national anthem.After Runeberg, it was to be Zacharius Topelius (1818–1898) to take the role of national Finnish author.