Fredrik Pacius (19.3.1809 – 8.1.1891) was a German-born Finnish composer and conductor who had a significant impact on the rise of the music life of Finland in the 19th century. He has earned the title of ‘the father of Finnish music’.

Fredrik Pacius was born in Hamburg and studied composition and the violin in Kassel. He served for several years as violinist in Stockholm before moving to Helsinki and starting to teach music at the University of Helsinki in 1834.

When Pacius arrived in Helsinki the music scene was unorganized and largely the field of enthusiastic amateurs. In 1838 Pacius formed a male choir, the Akademisk Sångföreningen. Later he also formed the Helsinki Symphonic Society with which he performed to a Helsinki audience works such as those of Mozart, Beethoven and Rossini.

In 1848 the song Our country, composed to a poem written by Runeberg was performed for the first time at a school undergraduates’ party on Flora’s day in Kumpula, Helsinki. Pacius is said to have composed the music in four days. The song became very popular and became established as the Finnish national anthem at the start of the 1900s.

The song spread outside the country as well. The Estonian national anthem Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja room and the Livonian national anthem Min izāmō. Both use the same tune by Pacius.

In 1852 the first Finnish opera, composed by Pacius, was completed. This was the Hunt of King Charles in the style of Romantic nationalism. Zacharius Topelius wrote the libretto with Pacius.

Pacius also composed the operas The Princess of Cyprus and Lorelei, orchestral works, chamber music, cantatas and other vocal works. Pacius received a professorship in 1860.