Christopher Frimann Omsen
Encyclopedia
Christopher Frimann Omsen (1761 – 25 April 1829) was a Norwegian "Founding Father" and later Supreme Court Justice.
He was born in Bergen
as a son of customs officer Hillebrandt Omsen (1723–1771) og Helchie Catharina Thode (1728–1775)—his parents died when he was young. He enrolled in law studies in Denmark in 1783, and graduated with a Danish law degree in 1789. In 1791 he took the cand.jur. degree. He was hired as an attorney ("procurator") in Christiania
in 1791 and in Akershus
in 1797. From 1799 he doubled as a prosecutor in customs matters. He married twice; the first marriage lasted from April 1792 to his wife's death in 1809, and he remarried in October 1811.
He lived in the city center
until 1826, and in 1814 he was elected as Christiania's second representative to the Norwegian Constituent Assembly, where he became one of the Fathers of the Constitution of Norway
. He was a member of the committee that drafted the Constitution, and especially contributed to the chapter on the judicial branch
. He supported monarchy, but not the King prospect Christian Frederick
, and tried on 17 May 1814 to postpone the choice of Christian Frederick as Norway's new king. This did not happen, and 17 May even became the Norwegian Constitution Day
.
Later in 1814, Omsen published a Norwegian Constituent Assembly-version of the Hansard
. The two-volume work was called Den Norske Rigs-Forsamlings Forhandlinger paa Eidsvold i Aaret 1814, and was published together with Georg Sverdrup
and Ludvig Stoud Platou
. In the same year he was given the right to be a barrister in cases in the newly established Supreme Court of Norway
, and already in 1815 he was appointed as an Assessor
(Supreme Court Justice). He participated in the second and the fourth Impeachment
cases.
Omsen also served as a deputy representative to the Parliament of Norway in 1815, and on the board of the Office of the Auditor General of Norway
from 1818 to 1824. He lived at the farm Nedre Blindern in Aker
from 1826, and died in April 1829 in Aker.
He was born in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
as a son of customs officer Hillebrandt Omsen (1723–1771) og Helchie Catharina Thode (1728–1775)—his parents died when he was young. He enrolled in law studies in Denmark in 1783, and graduated with a Danish law degree in 1789. In 1791 he took the cand.jur. degree. He was hired as an attorney ("procurator") in Christiania
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...
in 1791 and in Akershus
Akershus
- Geography :The county is conventionally divided into the traditional districts Follo and Romerike, which fill the vast part of the county, as well as the small exclave west of Oslo that consists of Asker and Bærum...
in 1797. From 1799 he doubled as a prosecutor in customs matters. He married twice; the first marriage lasted from April 1792 to his wife's death in 1809, and he remarried in October 1811.
He lived in the city center
Sentrum, Oslo
Sentrum meaning city-center is located on the southeast side of the city near the inner Oslofjord.The district is dominated by high rises like Postgirobygget and The Plaza. Oslos Central Station is located on the eastern side of the borough. Sentrum consists of Bjørvika which has a history as...
until 1826, and in 1814 he was elected as Christiania's second representative to the Norwegian Constituent Assembly, where he became one of the Fathers of the Constitution of Norway
Constitution of Norway
The Constitution of Norway was first adopted on May 16, 1814 by the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll , then signed and dated May 17...
. He was a member of the committee that drafted the Constitution, and especially contributed to the chapter on the judicial branch
Separation of powers
The separation of powers, often imprecisely used interchangeably with the trias politica principle, is a model for the governance of a state. The model was first developed in ancient Greece and came into widespread use by the Roman Republic as part of the unmodified Constitution of the Roman Republic...
. He supported monarchy, but not the King prospect Christian Frederick
Christian VIII of Denmark
Christian VIII , was king of Denmark from 1839 to 1848 and, as Christian Frederick, king of Norway in 1814. He was the eldest son of Hereditary Prince Frederick of Denmark and Norway and Sophia Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, born in 1786 at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen...
, and tried on 17 May 1814 to postpone the choice of Christian Frederick as Norway's new king. This did not happen, and 17 May even became the Norwegian Constitution Day
Norwegian Constitution Day
Norwegian Constitution Day is the National Day of Norway and is an official national holiday observed on May 17 each year. Among Norwegians, the day is referred to simply as syttende mai or syttande mai , Nasjonaldagen or Grunnlovsdagen , although the latter is less frequent.- Historical...
.
Later in 1814, Omsen published a Norwegian Constituent Assembly-version of the Hansard
Hansard
Hansard is the name of the printed transcripts of parliamentary debates in the Westminster system of government. It is named after Thomas Curson Hansard, an early printer and publisher of these transcripts.-Origins:...
. The two-volume work was called Den Norske Rigs-Forsamlings Forhandlinger paa Eidsvold i Aaret 1814, and was published together with Georg Sverdrup
Georg Sverdrup
Georg Sverdrup , born Jørgen Sverdrup, was a Norwegian philologist, who is well known for being a member of Norwegian Constituent Assembly in Eidsvoll in 1814 and later the parliament. He was also responsible for building the first Norwegian university library...
and Ludvig Stoud Platou
Ludvig Stoud Platou
Ludvig Stoud Platou was a Danish-Norwegian educator, historical and geographical writer, politician and State Secretary.-Personal life:...
. In the same year he was given the right to be a barrister in cases in the newly established Supreme Court of Norway
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...
, and already in 1815 he was appointed as an Assessor
Assessor (law)
In some jurisdictions, an assessor is a judge's or magistrate's assistant. This is in fact the historical meaning of this word.-By country:In Denmark, it was the former title given to Supreme Court judges. Today the title is given to Deputy Judges...
(Supreme Court Justice). He participated in the second and the fourth Impeachment
Impeachment (Norway)
In Norway, impeachment, also known as the Constitutional Court of the Realm , is a judicial process with the power to convict Members of Parliament, Members of the Council of State and Supreme Court Justices for criminal acts performed in line of duty. Impeachment is based on the Constitution of...
cases.
Omsen also served as a deputy representative to the Parliament of Norway in 1815, and on the board of the Office of the Auditor General of Norway
Office of the Auditor General of Norway
The Office of the Auditor General of Norway is the state auditor of the Government of Norway and directly subordinate of the Parliament of Norway. It is responsible for auditing, monitoring and advising all state economic activities, including financial audits, performance audits and corporate...
from 1818 to 1824. He lived at the farm Nedre Blindern in Aker
Aker, Norway
Aker is a former municipality in Akershus, which lends its name to a municipality and a county in Norway. The name originally belonged to a farm which was located near the current Old Aker Church...
from 1826, and died in April 1829 in Aker.