Frederik Due
Encyclopedia
Frederik Gottschalck Haxthausen Due (14 April 1796 – 16 October 1873) was a Norwegian
military officer and statesman. Born in Trondheim
, he entered the military at an early age, and took part in the Swedish-Norwegian War of 1814. After the two countries entered into union
, Due was recruited to the Swedish court, where he was appointed Norwegian state secretary in Stockholm in 1823. In 1841 he became Norwegian prime minister, and acted as interpreter for Charles XIV John
. After resigning in 1858, he spent the years until 1871 as an ambassador to Vienna
and Munich
.
, the son of merchant Carsten Schjødt Due (1762–1809) and Pauline Heltzen (1776–1850). His father's family originated from Duved
in Jämtland
, Sweden
, where from the family name derived. His great-grandfather on his mother's side was Frederik Gottschalck von Haxthausen
, who had served as First Minister of Norway for a short period in 1814.
At thirteen years of age, Due began his military education at the Artillery Institute in Copenhagen
, Denmark
. By 1813 he was a second lieutenant
. He took part in the Swedish-Norwegian War of 1814, but after the union
between the two countries was a fact, he was recruited by the Swedish court. In 1815, he was made adjutant
to Prince Oscar – the later King Oscar I
.
Due's career was rapid from this point on, helped by his fluency in French. He advanced to the ranks of lieutenant
in 1818, and captain in 1819. In 1822, he was promoted to major
, and at the same time constituted as Norwegian state secretary in Stockholm, a position to which he was formally appointed the next year. Due now served as interpreter between the francophone King Charles XIV John
and his Norwegian cabinet.
was appointed Governor-general of Norway
, Due succeeded him as prime minister on 27 February. This made him the first non-noble
prime minister of Norway, a fact that was well received by the more radical elements of the press. His came off to a bad start, however, when he decided to keep the government in Christiania (today's Oslo
) out of the negotiations over the important Øresund toll. The episode sparked a constitutional crisis, and almost led to Due's impeachment. Once the crisis passed, however, the rest of his tenure as prime minister went by without major difficulties.
After the death of King Charles John in 1844, Due had an equally good working relationship with King Oscar. After the king fell ill in 1858, however, tensions emerged between the regent Prince Charles
and the government in Norway. Jørgen Vogt
, First Minister in Christiania, resigned early in December, which forced Due to resign his position shortly afterwards.
and Munich
. He remained in this position until 1871, when he retired. He settled down in Copenhagen, but moved to Christiania in 1873, where he died later the same year. He is buried at Vår Frelsers gravlund
in Oslo.
On 28 February 1828, Frederik Due married Alethe Wilhelmine Georgine Sibbern (1812–1887), the daughter of councillor of state Valentin Christian Wilhelm Sibbern
(1779–1853). This marriage also made him brother-in-law of later prime minister Georg Sibbern
. The couple had no children, but his nephew was architect Paul Due
.
Due had a keen interest in science; in 1826 was made honorary member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences
, and in 1829 member of the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
. He received the Order of the Polar Star
in 1823, and the Grand Cross
of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1858.
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...
military officer and statesman. Born in Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
, he entered the military at an early age, and took part in the Swedish-Norwegian War of 1814. After the two countries entered into union
Union between Sweden and Norway
The Union between Sweden and Norway , officially the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway, consisted of present-day Sweden and Norway between 1814 and 1905, when they were united under one monarch in a personal union....
, Due was recruited to the Swedish court, where he was appointed Norwegian state secretary in Stockholm in 1823. In 1841 he became Norwegian prime minister, and acted as interpreter for Charles XIV John
Charles XIV John of Sweden
Charles XIV & III John, also Carl John, Swedish and Norwegian: Karl Johan was King of Sweden and King of Norway from 1818 until his death...
. After resigning in 1858, he spent the years until 1871 as an ambassador to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
.
Early life and career
Due was born in TrondheimTrondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
, the son of merchant Carsten Schjødt Due (1762–1809) and Pauline Heltzen (1776–1850). His father's family originated from Duved
Duved, Sweden
Duved is a locality situated in Åre Municipality, Jämtland County, Sweden with 637 inhabitants in 2005....
in Jämtland
Jämtland
Jämtland or Jamtland is a historical province or landskap in the center of Sweden in northern Europe. It borders to Härjedalen and Medelpad in the south, Ångermanland in the east, Lapland in the north and Trøndelag and Norway in the west...
, 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....
, where from the family name derived. His great-grandfather on his mother's side was Frederik Gottschalck von Haxthausen
Frederik Gottschalck von Haxthausen
Frederik Gottschalk von Haxthausen was a Norwegian army officer, councillor of state, cabinet membera and the country's first minister of finance....
, who had served as First Minister of Norway for a short period in 1814.
At thirteen years of age, Due began his military education at the Artillery Institute 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...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. By 1813 he was a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
. He took part in the Swedish-Norwegian War of 1814, but after the union
Union between Sweden and Norway
The Union between Sweden and Norway , officially the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway, consisted of present-day Sweden and Norway between 1814 and 1905, when they were united under one monarch in a personal union....
between the two countries was a fact, he was recruited by the Swedish court. In 1815, he was made adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
to Prince Oscar – the later King Oscar I
Oscar I of Sweden
Oscar I was King of Sweden and Norway from 1844 to his death. When, in August 1810, his father Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte was elected Crown Prince of Sweden, Oscar and his mother moved from Paris to Stockholm . Oscar's father was the first ruler of the current House of Bernadotte...
.
Due's career was rapid from this point on, helped by his fluency in French. He advanced to the ranks of lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in 1818, and captain in 1819. In 1822, he was promoted to major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
, and at the same time constituted as Norwegian state secretary in Stockholm, a position to which he was formally appointed the next year. Due now served as interpreter between the francophone King Charles XIV John
Charles XIV John of Sweden
Charles XIV & III John, also Carl John, Swedish and Norwegian: Karl Johan was King of Sweden and King of Norway from 1818 until his death...
and his Norwegian cabinet.
Prime minister
In 1841, Prime Minister Severin LøvenskioldSeverin Løvenskiold
Severin Løvenskiold, the younger , was a Norwegian nobleman and a politician.-Early life:...
was appointed Governor-general of Norway
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....
, Due succeeded him as prime minister on 27 February. This made him the first non-noble
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
prime minister of Norway, a fact that was well received by the more radical elements of the press. His came off to a bad start, however, when he decided to keep the government in Christiania (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...
) out of the negotiations over the important Øresund toll. The episode sparked a constitutional crisis, and almost led to Due's impeachment. Once the crisis passed, however, the rest of his tenure as prime minister went by without major difficulties.
After the death of King Charles John in 1844, Due had an equally good working relationship with King Oscar. After the king fell ill in 1858, however, tensions emerged between the regent Prince Charles
Charles XV of Sweden
Charles XV & IV also Carl ; Swedish and Norwegian: Karl was King of Sweden and Norway from 1859 until his death....
and the government in Norway. Jørgen Vogt
Jørgen Vogt
Jørgen Herman Vogt was a Norwegian newspaper editor and politician representing the Communist Party. He edited the newspapers Ny Tid and Friheten, served four terms in Trondheim city council and one term in the Norwegian Parliament.-Personal life:He was born in Kristiania as the son of professor...
, First Minister in Christiania, resigned early in December, which forced Due to resign his position shortly afterwards.
Later life, family and honours
After resigning as prime minister, Due was appointed Swedish-Norwegian ambassador to the courts in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. He remained in this position until 1871, when he retired. He settled down in Copenhagen, but moved to Christiania in 1873, where he died later the same year. He is buried at Vår Frelsers gravlund
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...
in Oslo.
On 28 February 1828, Frederik Due married Alethe Wilhelmine Georgine Sibbern (1812–1887), the daughter of councillor of state Valentin Christian Wilhelm Sibbern
Valentin Christian Wilhelm Sibbern
Valentin Christian Wilhelm Sibbern was a Norwegian government minister who served in different positions - as Minister of Auditing, Minister of Justice, Minister of the Army and Minister of the Navy - between 1830 and 1852. Before that he was County Governor of Smaalenenes Amt from 1814 to 1830....
(1779–1853). This marriage also made him brother-in-law of later prime minister Georg Sibbern
Georg Sibbern
Georg Christian Sibbern was the Norwegian Prime Minister 1858-1871, son of Valentin Christian Wilhelm Sibbern....
. The couple had no children, but his nephew was architect Paul Due
Paul Due
Paul Due was a Norwegian architect and significant contributor to the stations built by the Norwegian State Railways.-Biography:...
.
Due had a keen interest in science; in 1826 was made honorary member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences
Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences
The Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences or Kungl. Krigsvetenskapsakademin, founded in 1739 by King Frederick I, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden. The Academy is an independent organization and a forum for military and defense issues. Membership is limited to 160 chairs under the age of...
, and in 1829 member of the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
The Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters is a learned society based in Trondheim, Norway.-History:DKNVS was founded in 1760 by bishop of Nidaros Johan Ernst Gunnerus, headmaster at the Trondheim Cathedral School Gerhard Schøning and Councillor of State Peter Frederik Suhm under the name...
. He received the Order of the Polar Star
Order of the Polar Star
The Order of the Polar Star is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim....
in 1823, and the Grand Cross
Grand Cross
The phrase Grand Cross is used to denote the highest grade in many orders of knighthood. Sometimes the holders of the highest grade are referred to "knights grand cross" or just "grand crosses"; in other cases the actual insignia itself is called "the grand cross".Alternatively, in some other...
of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1858.