Christian Adolph Diriks
Encyclopedia
Christian Adolph Diriks (1 November 1775 – 16 December 1837) was a Norwegian
lawyer and statesman, and a member of the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll
in 1814.. He was born in Copenhagen
, the son of maritime captain Boye Boyesen Dyriks (1744–80) and Marie Elisabeth Stoppel (d. 1797). After studying law and working for some years in Copenhagen, he was transferred to Norway in 1806. In 1812, he was made town vogt
for Larvik
. It was from Larvik that he was elected to the Constitutional Assembly, and here, as the legal secretary of the Constitutional Committee
, he played an important part in shaping the language of the Constitution. Diriks was the assembly's resident expert on foreign constitutions, and emphasised civil liberties. He was responsible for the inclusion of §100, concerning freedom of speech
, and §102, guarding against unreasonable searches and seizures
. He was later made president of the Assembly, with responsibility for passing the Constitution.
Shortly after the dissolution of the assembly, Diriks was appointed professor of law at the newly founded University of Christiania
(today's Oslo
), but continuing government responsibilities prevented him from taking up the position. Among the positions he held were Minister of the Police and Minister of Justice
from 1814 to 1818, and Minister of Education and Church Affairs from 1825 to 1836. He did not enjoy the support of Count Wedel-Jarlsberg
, however, and when Wedel-Jarlsberg was appointed Governor-general
in 1836, Diriks was forced to retire.
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...
lawyer and statesman, and a member of the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll
Eidsvoll
is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the Romerike traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Sundet.-Name:...
in 1814.. He was born in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
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...
, the son of maritime captain Boye Boyesen Dyriks (1744–80) and Marie Elisabeth Stoppel (d. 1797). After studying law and working for some years in Copenhagen, he was transferred to Norway in 1806. In 1812, he was made town vogt
Vogt
A Vogt ; plural Vögte; Dutch voogd; Danish foged; ; ultimately from Latin [ad]vocatus) in the Holy Roman Empire was the German title of a reeve or advocate, an overlord exerting guardianship or military protection as well as secular justice...
for Larvik
Larvik
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Larvik. Larvik kommune - has about 41 364 inhabitants and covers 530 km2....
. It was from Larvik that he was elected to the Constitutional Assembly, and here, as the legal secretary of the Constitutional Committee
Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs
The Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs is a standing committee of the Parliament of Norway. It is holds a supervisory role in relation to the proceedings of the parliament and public sector. The committee has 11 members and is chaired by Anders Anundsen of the Centre.From...
, he played an important part in shaping the language of the Constitution. Diriks was the assembly's resident expert on foreign constitutions, and emphasised civil liberties. He was responsible for the inclusion of §100, concerning freedom of speech
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
, and §102, guarding against unreasonable searches and seizures
Search and seizure
Search and seizure is a legal procedure used in many civil law and common law legal systems whereby police or other authorities and their agents, who suspect that a crime has been committed, do a search of a person's property and confiscate any relevant evidence to the crime.Some countries have...
. He was later made president of the Assembly, with responsibility for passing the Constitution.
Shortly after the dissolution of the assembly, Diriks was appointed professor of law at the newly founded University of Christiania
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
(today's Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
), but continuing government responsibilities prevented him from taking up the position. Among the positions he held were Minister of the Police and Minister of Justice
Minister of Justice and the Police (Norway)
In Norway, the Minister of Justice and the Police is the head of the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police and a member of Government of Norway. Current minister is Grete Faremo of the Norwegian Labour Party who is part of the second cabinet Stoltenberg...
from 1814 to 1818, and Minister of Education and Church Affairs from 1825 to 1836. He did not enjoy the support of Count Wedel-Jarlsberg
Johan Caspar Herman Wedel-Jarlsberg
Johan Caspar Herman Wedel-Jarlsberg was a politician and a Norwegian count, one of only two titled noblemen in Norway...
, however, and when Wedel-Jarlsberg was appointed Governor-general
Governor-general of Norway
The Governor-general of Norway, styled Rigsstatholder in Danish or Riksståthållare in Swedish, both meaning 'Lieutenant of the realm' , was the appointed head of the Norwegian Government in the absence of the Monarch....
in 1836, Diriks was forced to retire.