Christian Stray
Encyclopedia
Christian Stray was a Norwegian
lawyer and politician for the Liberal Party.
He was born in Christianssand
as a son of timber merchant and shipowner Thorkild Marthinius Stray (1852–1912) and his wife Marie Nodeland (1859–1947). He finished
his secondary education at Christianssand Cathedral School in 1912, and graduated with the cand.jur. degree in 1919. From 1918 to 1919 he chaired the student's society Juristforeningen. In between he had served in the Royal Norwegian Navy
, and held the rank of premier lieutenant from 1918. From 1919 to 1920 he was a subeditor of newspaper Norske Intelligenz-Seddeler
, and from 1920 to 1923 he was a secretary in the Ministry of Justice
and auxiliary judge in Sunnfjord District Court. In 1923 he settled in Arendal as an attorney; from 1927 a barrister with access to work with Supreme Court
cases.
In March 1921 in Sandnes
he married Sigrid Kluge. In 1924 they had the daughter Signe Marie; she married later Chief Justice
Rolv Ryssdal
in 1954.
Stray became involved in politics while studying. He was deputy mayor of Tromøy from 1928 to 1931, and mayor from 1931 to 1934. He was then a regular member of the municipal council from 1934 to 1945. He was elected to the Parliament of Norway from Aust-Agder
in 1933
and 1936
, serving two terms. He was a member of the Standing Committee on Justice
. In 1939 he became a national board member of the Liberal Party. His position was suspended in 1940, as Parliament and all political parties save Nasjonal Samling were prohibited, as a part of the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
. Stray himself was arrested by the Nazis on 22 February 1944. After some time in Kristiansand prison
, he was incarcerated at Grini concentration camp from 11 March to 7 September. He was released then, but the Nazis intended to arrest him again on 1 November the same year. However, because of Stray's health at the time, it was decided to keep him in house arrest
. He was liberated at the war's end in May 1945.
After the war he returned as mayor of Tromøy from 1956 to 1959. He was also chairman of the committee that prepared the Tromøy Bridge
from 1938 to 1961, as well as of the board in the Arendal newspaper Agderposten
. He was the sole owner of the newspaper for many years, having started in 1936 when he, together with two associates, took over Agderposten by buying shares in the company with the same name. It was inherited by his daughter. He died in July 1981.
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 politician for the Liberal Party.
He was born in Christianssand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
as a son of timber merchant and shipowner Thorkild Marthinius Stray (1852–1912) and his wife Marie Nodeland (1859–1947). He finished
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
his secondary education at Christianssand Cathedral School in 1912, and graduated with the cand.jur. degree in 1919. From 1918 to 1919 he chaired the student's society Juristforeningen. In between he had served in the Royal Norwegian Navy
Royal Norwegian Navy
The Royal Norwegian Navy is the branch of the Norwegian Defence Force responsible for naval operations. , the RNoN consists of approximately 3,700 personnel and 70 vessels, including 5 heavy frigates, 6 submarines, 14 patrol boats, 4 minesweepers, 4 minehunters, 1 mine detection vessel, 4 support...
, and held the rank of premier lieutenant from 1918. From 1919 to 1920 he was a subeditor of newspaper Norske Intelligenz-Seddeler
Norske Intelligenz-Seddeler
Norske Intelligenz-Seddeler is a former Norwegian newspaper, issued in Oslo from 1763 to 1920. Norske Intelligenz-Seddeler was the first newspaper in Norway, and its first issue came out on 25 May 1763....
, and from 1920 to 1923 he was a secretary in the Ministry of Justice
Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police is a Norwegian government ministry in charge of justice, police and domestic intelligence. The main purpose of the Ministry is to provide for the maintenance and development of the basic guarantees of the rule of law...
and auxiliary judge in Sunnfjord District Court. In 1923 he settled in Arendal as an attorney; from 1927 a barrister with access to work with Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Norway
The Supreme Court of Norway was established in 1815 on the basis of the Constitution of Norway's §88, prescribing an independent judiciary. It is located in Oslo and is Norway's highest court...
cases.
In March 1921 in Sandnes
Sandnes
is a city and municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. It is part of the region of Jæren.-History:Sandnes was separated from Høyland as a municipality of its own in 1860, and gained city status the same year...
he married Sigrid Kluge. In 1924 they had the daughter Signe Marie; she married later Chief Justice
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway is the judicial leader of the Supreme Court of Norway.The following is a chronological list of chief justices since the court was established:...
Rolv Ryssdal
Rolv Ryssdal
Rolv Einar Rasmussen Ryssdal was a Norwegian judge.From 1969 to 1984 he was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court...
in 1954.
Stray became involved in politics while studying. He was deputy mayor of Tromøy from 1928 to 1931, and mayor from 1931 to 1934. He was then a regular member of the municipal council from 1934 to 1945. He was elected to the Parliament of Norway from Aust-Agder
Aust-Agder
is a county in Norway, bordering Telemark, Rogaland, and Vest-Agder. In 2002, there were 102,945 inhabitants, which is 2.2% of the total population in Norway. Its area is . The administrative center of the county is in Arendal....
in 1933
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1933
-Results:- References :...
and 1936
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1936
The parliamentary election of 1936 was the last one held in Norway before World War II and the German invasion of Norway.-Results:*...
, serving two terms. He was a member of the Standing Committee on Justice
Standing Committee on Justice
The Standing Committee on Justice is a standing committee of the Parliament of Norway. It is responsible for policies relating to judicial system, the probation service, the police, persons performing civilian national service, other judicial issues, ex gratia payments, general legislation...
. In 1939 he became a national board member of the Liberal Party. His position was suspended in 1940, as Parliament and all political parties save Nasjonal Samling were prohibited, as a part of the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
. Stray himself was arrested by the Nazis on 22 February 1944. After some time in Kristiansand prison
Kristiansand prison
Kristiansand Prison is a prison in Kristiansand, Norway.It has a capacity of 44 inmates.-References:...
, he was incarcerated at Grini concentration camp from 11 March to 7 September. He was released then, but the Nazis intended to arrest him again on 1 November the same year. However, because of Stray's health at the time, it was decided to keep him in house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
. He was liberated at the war's end in May 1945.
After the war he returned as mayor of Tromøy from 1956 to 1959. He was also chairman of the committee that prepared the Tromøy Bridge
Tromøy Bridge
Tromøy Bridge is a suspension bridge that crosses Tromøysundet east of Arendal in Norway, connecting the island Tromøy with the mainland....
from 1938 to 1961, as well as of the board in the Arendal newspaper Agderposten
Agderposten
Agderposten is a daily newspaper published in Arendal, Norway.The newspaper was founded by teacher Jens Svendsen and published for the first time on 1 July 1874. Svendsen was the owner and editor-in-chief until 1919. His son Jens Svendsen, Jr. was a co-editor for a couple of years...
. He was the sole owner of the newspaper for many years, having started in 1936 when he, together with two associates, took over Agderposten by buying shares in the company with the same name. It was inherited by his daughter. He died in July 1981.