Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko (Ukrainian: Тара́с Григо́рович Шевче́нко, pronounced [tɑˈrɑs ɦrɪˈɦɔrɔvɪt͡ʃ ʃɛwˈt͡ʃɛnkɔ]; March 9 [O.S. February 25] 1814 – March 10 [O.S. February 26] 1861) was a Ukrainian poet, writer, artist, public and political figure, as well as folklorist and ethnographer. His literary heritage is regarded to be the foundation of modern Ukrainian literature and, to a large extent, the modern Ukrainian language.