Adolf Hedin
Encyclopedia
Sven Adolf Hedin was a Swedish
newspaper publisher, writer and politician. He was known for his advocacy for democratic
and social reforms.
Hedin was born in Bo Parish (now part of Hallsberg Municipality
) in Örebro County
, the son of vicar Johan Gustaf Hedin and Beata Elisabeth Vesterberg. He earned a B.A.
from Uppsala University
in 1861 and worked thereafter as a critic for Upsala-Posten. In 1864 he moved to Stockholm
to work as a publisher for several newspapers. He worked for some time at Dagens Nyheter
and was the executive editor of Aftonbladet
from 1874 to 1876.
In 1870 Hedin was elected a member of the lower house
of the Swedish parliament
. He continued as a Member of Parliament until his death, with the exception for the years 1874 to 1876 (when he was editor of Aftonbladet
) and 1888. During the 1870s Hedin argued for universal suffrage
and military conscription
.
In foreign policy, Hedin was known for his support for Scandinavism
. He initially supported the Swedish-Norwegian union
. However, at the union crisis in 1905 he supported the Norwegian
demands for independence and in his last public statement he urged for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
newspaper publisher, writer and politician. He was known for his advocacy for democratic
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
and social reforms.
Hedin was born in Bo Parish (now part of Hallsberg Municipality
Hallsberg Municipality
Hallsberg Municipality is a municipality in Örebro County in central Sweden. Its seat is located in the town of Hallsberg....
) in Örebro County
Örebro County
Örebro County is a county or län in central Sweden. It borders the counties of Västra Götaland, Värmland, Dalarna, Västmanland, Södermanland and Östergötland.- Province :...
, the son of vicar Johan Gustaf Hedin and Beata Elisabeth Vesterberg. He earned a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Uppsala University
Uppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
in 1861 and worked thereafter as a critic for Upsala-Posten. In 1864 he moved to Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
to work as a publisher for several newspapers. He worked for some time at Dagens Nyheter
Dagens Nyheter
is a daily newspaper in Sweden. It has the largest circulation of Swedish morning newspapers, followed by Göteborgs-Posten and Svenska Dagbladet, and is the only morning newspaper that is distributed to subscribers across the whole country. In 2009 DN had a circulation of 316,000, reaching 881...
and was the executive editor of Aftonbladet
Aftonbladet
Aftonbladet is a Swedish tabloid founded by Lars Johan Hierta in 1830 during the modernization of Sweden. It is one of the larger daily newspapers in the Nordic countries. Aftonbladet is owned by the Swedish Trade Union Confederation and Norwegian media group Schibsted, and its editorial page...
from 1874 to 1876.
In 1870 Hedin was elected a member of the lower house
Lower house
A lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house.Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide the lower house has come to wield more power...
of the Swedish parliament
Parliament of Sweden
The Riksdag is the national legislative assembly of Sweden. The riksdag is a unicameral assembly with 349 members , who are elected on a proportional basis to serve fixed terms of four years...
. He continued as a Member of Parliament until his death, with the exception for the years 1874 to 1876 (when he was editor of Aftonbladet
Aftonbladet
Aftonbladet is a Swedish tabloid founded by Lars Johan Hierta in 1830 during the modernization of Sweden. It is one of the larger daily newspapers in the Nordic countries. Aftonbladet is owned by the Swedish Trade Union Confederation and Norwegian media group Schibsted, and its editorial page...
) and 1888. During the 1870s Hedin argued for universal suffrage
Universal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
and military conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
.
In foreign policy, Hedin was known for his support for Scandinavism
Scandinavism
Scandinavism and Nordism are literary and political movements that support various degrees of cooperation between the Scandinavian or Nordic countries...
. He initially supported the Swedish-Norwegian union
Union between Sweden and Norway
The Union between Sweden and Norway , officially the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway, consisted of present-day Sweden and Norway between 1814 and 1905, when they were united under one monarch in a personal union....
. However, at the union crisis in 1905 he supported the Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
demands for independence and in his last public statement he urged for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.