Frederik Schmidt
Encyclopedia
Frederik Schmidt was a Danish
-Norwegian
priest, politician, doctor of theology, poet and diarist.
as the son of Christen Schmidt
(1727–1804) and Petronelle S. Lemmich (1734–1798). His parents were of Norwegian descent, and they moved to Norway as his father became bishop in 1773. Schmidt enrolled as a student at the University of Copenhagen
in 1787, and after a later hiatus he returned and graduated with the cand.theol.
degree in 1791. He was a member of the Norwegian Society
.
Schmidt was a priest in Christiania
from 1792, and started the periodical Hermoder in 1795, which he edited until 1797. In 1798 he became vicar of Eger
. He was promoted to dean
in 1808. He also tried to become dean of Copenhagen
, but did not receive the appointment. In 1817 he failed again, in becoming bishop of the Diocese of Bergen. He took an absence of leave of two years, and then resigned from his position in Eger. In 1820 he returned to Denmark as vicar of Himmelev
. He took the dr. theol.
degree in 1826 with the thesis Historia Paulicianorum orientalium.
Schmidt was elected to the Norwegian Constituent Assembly in 1814. He supported Crown Prince Christian Frederick of Denmark
and his endeavor to become the new ruler of Norway. When Sweden stopped this plan with a military campaign
, Schmidt accepted the subsequent union between Sweden and Norway
. However, Schmidt took the initiative to a scrutiny of the Norwegian government's role in the military campaign. This initiative led to Norway's first Impeachment
case, against Lieutenant General Fredrik Gottschalk von Haxthausen. Schmidt took this initiative has he had been elected to the first session of the Parliament of Norway, representing the constituency of Buskeruds Amt
. He only served one term. He was also a co-founder of the Royal Norwegian Society of Development in 1809. In 1813 he was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog
.
Frederik Schmidt died in February 1840 in Himmelev
.
.
Schmidt wrote poems, and releases include Samlede Digte (1811) and Ny samlede Digte (1835). He is also known for his diaries. Diaries for the years 1790, 1794, 1807, 1811, 1814, 1817, 1818 and 1819 have been preserved by the Royal Danish Library in Copenhagen. Excerpts from diaries were released in 1868 as Provst Fredrik Schmidts Dagbøger. A new edition came, in three volumes, between 1966 and 1985. These diaries are regarded as having significant historical value.
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...
-Norwegian
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...
priest, politician, doctor of theology, poet and diarist.
Biography
Schmidt was born in Asminderød, DenmarkDenmark
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...
as the son of Christen Schmidt
Christen Schmidt
Christen Schmidt was a Norwegian bishop.He was born in Kongsvinger as a son of vicar Hans Jacob Schmidt and Alethe S. Lemmich. He enrolled as a student in 1745 and graduated with the cand.theol. degree in May 1748. After some years as a private tutor and a priest at sea, he was appointed as vicar...
(1727–1804) and Petronelle S. Lemmich (1734–1798). His parents were of Norwegian descent, and they moved to Norway as his father became bishop in 1773. Schmidt enrolled as a student at the University of Copenhagen
University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is the oldest and largest university and research institution in Denmark. Founded in 1479, it has more than 37,000 students, the majority of whom are female , and more than 7,000 employees. The university has several campuses located in and around Copenhagen, with the...
in 1787, and after a later hiatus he returned and graduated with the cand.theol.
Cand.theol.
Candidatus theologiæ , Candidata theologiæ , abbreviated cand. theol. is an academic degree with a long tradition, awarded after a six year higher education in theology in Denmark and Norway. In Norway, the title has remained after the "Quality Reform", though it is equivalent to a Master of...
degree in 1791. He was a member of the Norwegian Society
The Norwegian Society
The Norwegian Society was a literary society for Norwegian students in Copenhagen. Its members included authors, poets and philosophers. The Norwegian Society was formed in 1772 by Ove Gjerløw Meyer...
.
Schmidt was a priest 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...
from 1792, and started the periodical Hermoder in 1795, which he edited until 1797. In 1798 he became vicar of Eger
Eiker
Eiker is a traditional district in the county of Buskerud, Norway.-History:Eiker consists of the municipalities of Nedre Eiker and Øvre Eiker . The area is located in the southern part of Buskerud county....
. He was promoted to dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
in 1808. He also tried to become dean of 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...
, but did not receive the appointment. In 1817 he failed again, in becoming bishop of the Diocese of Bergen. He took an absence of leave of two years, and then resigned from his position in Eger. In 1820 he returned to Denmark as vicar of Himmelev
Himmelev
Himmelev is an area in the city of Roskilde in Denmark. It contains primarily parcel houses, but one of the three colleges in Roskilde, Himmelev Gymnasium, is also located there....
. He took the dr. theol.
Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology is a terminal academic degree in theology. It is a research degree that is considered by the U.S. National Science Foundation to be the equivalent of a Doctor of Philosophy....
degree in 1826 with the thesis Historia Paulicianorum orientalium.
Schmidt was elected to the Norwegian Constituent Assembly in 1814. He supported Crown Prince Christian Frederick of Denmark
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 his endeavor to become the new ruler of Norway. When Sweden stopped this plan with a military campaign
Swedish campaign against Norway (1814)
The Swedish-Norwegian War, also known as the Campaign against Norway, was fought between Sweden and Norway in the summer of 1814. The war resulted in Norway entering into union with Sweden, but with its own constitution and parliament.-Background:...
, Schmidt accepted the subsequent union between Sweden and Norway
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....
. However, Schmidt took the initiative to a scrutiny of the Norwegian government's role in the military campaign. This initiative led to Norway's first 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...
case, against Lieutenant General Fredrik Gottschalk von Haxthausen. Schmidt took this initiative has he had been elected to the first session of the Parliament of Norway, representing the constituency of Buskeruds Amt
Buskerud
is a county in Norway, bordering Akershus, Oslo, Oppland, Sogn og Fjordane, Hordaland, Telemark, and Vestfold. The county administration is located in Drammen.-Geography:...
. He only served one term. He was also a co-founder of the Royal Norwegian Society of Development in 1809. In 1813 he was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
.
Frederik Schmidt died in February 1840 in Himmelev
Himmelev
Himmelev is an area in the city of Roskilde in Denmark. It contains primarily parcel houses, but one of the three colleges in Roskilde, Himmelev Gymnasium, is also located there....
.
Family and personal life
Schmidt married Maren Elisabeth Mathea Oppen (1778–1841) in January 1799 in ChristianiaOslo
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...
.
Schmidt wrote poems, and releases include Samlede Digte (1811) and Ny samlede Digte (1835). He is also known for his diaries. Diaries for the years 1790, 1794, 1807, 1811, 1814, 1817, 1818 and 1819 have been preserved by the Royal Danish Library in Copenhagen. Excerpts from diaries were released in 1868 as Provst Fredrik Schmidts Dagbøger. A new edition came, in three volumes, between 1966 and 1985. These diaries are regarded as having significant historical value.