Evald Rygh
Encyclopedia
Evald Rygh was a Norwegian banker and politician for the Conservative Party
. He served as Minister of Finance and Customs
and mayor of Kristiania.
He was born in Verdal
, and was the brother of Karl Ditlev
and Oluf Rygh
. He was educated in law, holding a cand.jur. degree. Both his brothers were noted archaeologists, and Karl Ditlev was a conservative politician too.
From 1880 to 1889 Evald Rygh served as burgomaster
of Kristiania
. On 13 July 1889, when the first cabinet Stang
assumed office, Rygh was appointed Minister of Finance and Customs
. He lost this post when the first cabinet Stang fell on 5 March 1891. Instead, he was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1892 for the constituency of Kristiania, Hønefoss og Kongsvinger. He only served one term, having also served as mayor of Kristiania from 1893 to 1894. Rygh reportedly turned down a request to return as a government minister when the second cabinet Stang
was formed in 1893. In 1895 and 1896 he led the committee that negotiated a new Mellomrikslov between Norway and Sweden, as Sweden had annulled the existing laws in 1895. The negotiations were fruitless, as such contributing to the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905.
Outside of politics, Rygh was the CEO of Christiania Sparebank from 1893. He was also the first chair
of the National Theatre
. Together with Hans Hagerup Krag
he worked to establish an outdoors area around Holmenkollen
, Voksenkollen and Frognerseteren
accessible to the city populace. Through the Holmen-Voksenkoll Society, founded in 1888, they helped in the building of Holmenkollen Chapel and, together with the Association for the Promotion of Skiing, the establishment of the Holmenkollen ski jump
and Korketrekkeren
, a luge
and bobsleigh
course. To commemorate this a bauta of Rygh was erected at Holmenkollen. The road Ryghs vei and the square Evald Ryghs plass, both in Oslo, have been named after him. Rygh was also proclaimed a Commander, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1891.
Rygh died in 1913. He was buried at Vår Frelsers gravlund
.
Conservative Party of Norway
The Conservative Party is a Norwegian political party. The current leader is Erna Solberg. The party was since the 1920s consistently the second largest party in Norway, but has been surpassed by the growth of the Progress Party in the late 1990s and 2000s...
. He served as Minister of Finance and Customs
Minister of Finance (Norway)
- 1st Ministry :- 5th Ministry :- Ministry of Finance, Trade and Customs :- Ministry of Finance and Customs :- Ministry of Finance :...
and mayor of Kristiania.
He was born in Verdal
Verdal
Verdal is a municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Innherad region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Verdalsøra...
, and was the brother of Karl Ditlev
Karl Ditlev Rygh
Karl Ditlev Rygh was a Norwegian archaeologist and politician for the Conservative Party.He was born in Verdal, and was the brother of Evald og Oluf Rygh. He graduated as cand.philol. in 1863. He was hired as a teacher at Trondheim Cathedral School in 1866, and worked as headmaster there from 1887...
and Oluf Rygh
Oluf Rygh
Oluf Rygh was a noted Norwegian archeologist, philologist and historian. Oluf Rygh is recognized as one of the founders of professional archeology in Norway.-Background:...
. He was educated in law, holding a cand.jur. degree. Both his brothers were noted archaeologists, and Karl Ditlev was a conservative politician too.
From 1880 to 1889 Evald Rygh served as burgomaster
Burgomaster
Burgomaster is the English form of various terms in or derived from Germanic languages for the chief magistrate or chairman of the executive council of a sub-national level of administration...
of Kristiania
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...
. On 13 July 1889, when the first cabinet Stang
First cabinet Stang
The Stang's First Cabinet governed Norway between 13 July 1889 and 6 March 1891. It was led by Emil Stang and is one of two Conservative Party-only cabinets ever in Norway, the other being Willoch's First Cabinet from 1981 to 1983. It had the following composition:-Cabinet members:-State...
assumed office, Rygh was appointed Minister of Finance and Customs
Minister of Finance (Norway)
- 1st Ministry :- 5th Ministry :- Ministry of Finance, Trade and Customs :- Ministry of Finance and Customs :- Ministry of Finance :...
. He lost this post when the first cabinet Stang fell on 5 March 1891. Instead, he was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1892 for the constituency of Kristiania, Hønefoss og Kongsvinger. He only served one term, having also served as mayor of Kristiania from 1893 to 1894. Rygh reportedly turned down a request to return as a government minister when the second cabinet Stang
Second cabinet Stang
The Stang's Second Cabinet governed Norway between 2 May 1893 and 14 October 1895. It had the following composition:-Cabinet members:-State Secretary:...
was formed in 1893. In 1895 and 1896 he led the committee that negotiated a new Mellomrikslov between Norway and Sweden, as Sweden had annulled the existing laws in 1895. The negotiations were fruitless, as such contributing to the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905.
Outside of politics, Rygh was the CEO of Christiania Sparebank from 1893. He was also the first chair
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
of the National Theatre
Nationaltheatret
The National Theatre in Oslo is one of Norway's largest and most prominent venues for performance of dramatic arts.The theatre had its first performance on 1 September 1899 but can trace its origins to Christiania Theatre, which was founded in 1829...
. Together with Hans Hagerup Krag
Hans Hagerup Krag
Hans Hagerup Krag was a Norwegian engineer.He was hired as an engineer in the Norwegian Public Roads Administration in 1852, and served as director of the Norwegian Directorate of Public Roads from 1874 to 1903. Also, together with Thomas Heftye he founded the Norwegian Mountain Touring...
he worked to establish an outdoors area around Holmenkollen
Holmenkollen
Holmenkollen is a neighborhood in the Vestre Aker borough of Oslo, Norway. In addition to being a residential area, the area has been a ski recreation area since the late 19th century, with its famous, eponymous, ski jump arena hosting competitions since 1892...
, Voksenkollen and Frognerseteren
Frognerseteren
Frognerseteren is a neighborhood of Oslo, Norway, located within Nordmarka. It is a popular starting point for recreational hiking and skiing in Oslo. Frognerseteren Station is the terminal station of the Holmenkollen Line of the Oslo Metro....
accessible to the city populace. Through the Holmen-Voksenkoll Society, founded in 1888, they helped in the building of Holmenkollen Chapel and, together with the Association for the Promotion of Skiing, the establishment of the Holmenkollen ski jump
Holmenkollen ski jump
Holmenkollbakken is a large ski jumping hill located at Holmenkollen in Oslo, Norway. It has a hill size of HS134, a construction point of K-120, and a capacity for 30,000 spectators. Holmenkollen has hosted the Holmenkollen Ski Festival since 1892, which since 1980 have been part of the FIS Ski...
and Korketrekkeren
Korketrekkeren
Korketrekkeren is a bobsleigh course used for the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo.The track was laid on the Frognerseter hill in time for the test runs to be performed in February 1951. Costing NOK 615,000 to complete, the track had 50 telephone lines of communications to keep up with the competition...
, a luge
Luge
A Luge is a small one- or two-person sled on which one sleds supine and feet-first. Steering is done by flexing the sled's runners with the calf of each leg or exerting opposite shoulder pressure to the seat. Racing sleds weigh 21-25 kilograms for singles and 25-30 kilograms for doubles. Luge...
and bobsleigh
Bobsleigh
Bobsleigh or bobsled is a winter sport in which teams of two or four make timed runs down narrow, twisting, banked, iced tracks in a gravity-powered sled that are combined to calculate the final score....
course. To commemorate this a bauta of Rygh was erected at Holmenkollen. The road Ryghs vei and the square Evald Ryghs plass, both in Oslo, have been named after him. Rygh was also proclaimed a Commander, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1891.
Vår Frelsers gravlund
Vår Frelsers gravlund is a cemetery in Oslo, Norway, located north of Hammersborg in Gamle Aker district. It was created in 1808 as a result of the great famine and cholera epidemic of the Napoleonic Wars. Its grounds were extended in 1911. The cemetery has been full since 1952...
.