August Hjalmar Edgren
Encyclopedia
August Hjalmar Edgren was a Swedish-American linguist, professor, and author.
, Sweden
. He was the son of Axel Edgren (1813–1864) and Mathilda Berger (1817–1878). He was educated in Karlstad
and Stockholm
. He was a graduate of the University of Uppsala. Edgren passed the officer's exam in Stockholm 1860 and subsequently served as an officer in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
. He resigned towards the end of 1863, went back to Sweden and took commission in the Värmland Regiment
, in which he served 1864-1870. In the beginning of the 1870s Edgren returned to the United States, where he studied at Cornell University
and Yale University
.
of the University of Gothenburg from 1891-93.
In 1896, Edgren was one of the professors who organized the graduate college at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
. The graduate college at University of Nebraska was the first graduate school in the trans-Mississippi West. At the University of Nebraska, Edgren served as a professor of romance languages and comparative philology. He added courses in Scandinavian languages to the romance language department.
Hjalmar Edgren translated into English, the works of noted Swedish writer Viktor Rydberg
. He translated Magic of the Middle Ages and The Cosmic Philosophy of the Middle Ages. Hjalmar Edgren also translated published works from English into Swedish, most notably the poetry of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
and Alfred Tennyson.
Edgren wrote numerous books, including a report of the author's travels in Mexico
. Additional, the multi-lingual Edgren was the author of numerous books of grammar in several languages including German, French, Italian, Spanish and Sanskrit.
In 1901, he returned to Sweden to serve on the founding board of the Nobel Prize in Literature
at the Swedish Academy
. In 1902, he was awarded a Doctorate of Law at the University of Nebraska.
to Anna Marianne (Manne) Steendorff. Anna Marianne was the daughter of Danish painter Christian Wilhelm Steendorff (1817–1904) and Anna Ulrica Öhrström (1816–1891). She was also the brother of Swedish architect Magnus Steendorff
.
Hjalmar Edgren was the brother of John Alexis Edgren
who became a Minister and was the founder of what became Bethel University
. Hjalmar Edgren died in Djursholm
in Danderyd Municipality
, a municipality just north of Stockholm, Sweden.
Background
August Hjalmar Edgren was born in Östanås, Älvsbacka parish in VärmlandVärmland
' is a historical province or landskap in the west of middle Sweden. It borders Västergötland, Dalsland, Dalarna, Västmanland and Närke. It is also bounded by Norway in the west. Latin name versions are Vermelandia and Wermelandia. Although the province's land originally was Götaland, the...
, Sweden
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....
. He was the son of Axel Edgren (1813–1864) and Mathilda Berger (1817–1878). He was educated in Karlstad
Karlstad
Karlstad is a city, the seat of Karlstad Municipality, the capital of Värmland County, and the largest city in the province Värmland in Sweden. The city had 61,685 inhabitants in 2010 out of a municipal total that during the first quarter 2010 was 84,885 inhabitants...
and 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...
. He was a graduate of the University of Uppsala. Edgren passed the officer's exam in Stockholm 1860 and subsequently served as an officer in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He resigned towards the end of 1863, went back to Sweden and took commission in the Värmland Regiment
Värmlands regemente
Värmlands regemente , designations I 22, I 2 and I 2/Fo 52, was a Swedish Army infantry regiment that traced its origins back to the 16th century. It was disbanded in 2000...
, in which he served 1864-1870. In the beginning of the 1870s Edgren returned to the United States, where he studied at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
and Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
.
Career
Hjalmar Edgren divided his professional career between Sweden and the United States. Edgren served as the RectorRector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the University of Gothenburg from 1891-93.
In 1896, Edgren was one of the professors who organized the graduate college at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a public research university located in the city of Lincoln in the U.S. state of Nebraska...
. The graduate college at University of Nebraska was the first graduate school in the trans-Mississippi West. At the University of Nebraska, Edgren served as a professor of romance languages and comparative philology. He added courses in Scandinavian languages to the romance language department.
Hjalmar Edgren translated into English, the works of noted Swedish writer Viktor Rydberg
Viktor Rydberg
Abraham Viktor Rydberg was a Swedish writer and a member of the Swedish Academy, 1877-1895...
. He translated Magic of the Middle Ages and The Cosmic Philosophy of the Middle Ages. Hjalmar Edgren also translated published works from English into Swedish, most notably the poetry of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an American poet and educator whose works include "Paul Revere's Ride", The Song of Hiawatha, and Evangeline...
and Alfred Tennyson.
Edgren wrote numerous books, including a report of the author's travels in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Additional, the multi-lingual Edgren was the author of numerous books of grammar in several languages including German, French, Italian, Spanish and Sanskrit.
In 1901, he returned to Sweden to serve on the founding board of the Nobel Prize in Literature
Nobel Prize in Literature
Since 1901, the Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded annually to an author from any country who has, in the words from the will of Alfred Nobel, produced "in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction"...
at the Swedish Academy
Swedish Academy
The Swedish Academy , founded in 1786 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden.-History:The Swedish Academy was founded in 1786 by King Gustav III. Modelled after the Académie française, it has 18 members. The motto of the Academy is "Talent and Taste"...
. In 1902, he was awarded a Doctorate of Law at the University of Nebraska.
Personal life
During 1880, Hjalmar Edgren was married in CopenhagenCopenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
to Anna Marianne (Manne) Steendorff. Anna Marianne was the daughter of Danish painter Christian Wilhelm Steendorff (1817–1904) and Anna Ulrica Öhrström (1816–1891). She was also the brother of Swedish architect Magnus Steendorff
Magnus Steendorff
Magnus Gottfrid Steendorff was a Swedish architect of partly Danish ancestry.-Background:Magnus Steendorff was born in Copenhagen as the only son of Danish painter Christian Wilhelm Steendorff and his wife Anna Ulrica Öhrström from Sweden...
.
Hjalmar Edgren was the brother of John Alexis Edgren
John Alexis Edgren
John Alexis Edgren was a Swedish-American Baptist Minister. Edgren began what eventually evolved into Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota.-Background:...
who became a Minister and was the founder of what became Bethel University
Bethel University (Minnesota)
Bethel University is a Christian higher education institution with approximately 6,000 students from 36 countries enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and adult education programs...
. Hjalmar Edgren died in Djursholm
Djursholm
Djursholm is one of four suburban districts in, and the seat of Danderyd Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden. Djursholm is included in the multi-municipal Stockholm urban area.-History:...
in Danderyd Municipality
Danderyd Municipality
Danderyd Municipality is a municipality just north of Stockholm in Stockholm County in east central Sweden. It is one of the smallest municipalities of Sweden, but the most affluent...
, a municipality just north of Stockholm, Sweden.
Selected works
- Kalidasa, Schakuntala eller den förlorade ringen (1875) Swedish
- Ur Amerikas skönliteratur. Teckningar och öfversättningar (1878) Swedish
- On the verbal roots of the Sanskrit language and of the Sanskrit grammarians (1879)
- The kindred Germanic words of German and English (1880)
- Sanskritspråkets formlära (1883) Swedish
- Dikter i original och översättning (1884) Swedish
- A compendious Sanskrit grammar (1885)
- A compendious French Grammar (1890)
- An Elementary Spanish Grammar (1891)
- Supplementary exercises for Edgren's French Grammar (1893)
- A brief Italian grammar; with exercises (1897)
- Sommarferier I Montezumas Land (1898) Swedish
- Topical digest of the Rig-Veda (1899)
- An Italian and English dictionary with pronunciation and brief etymologies (1901)
- French and English dictionary; with indications of pronunciation and etymologies (1901)
Other sources
- Benson, Adolph B & Naboth Hedin Swedes in America 1638-1938 (New Haven, 1938)
- Lindquist, Emory: An Immigrant's Two Worlds, a Biography of Hjalmar Edgren (Rock Island, Illinois: Augustana Historical Society. 1972)