Frithjof Jacobsen
Encyclopedia
Frithjof Halfdan Jacobsen (14 January 1914 – 14 March 1999) was a Norwegian diplomat.
He was born in South Shields
as a son of shipmaster and navy captain Carl Gustav Jacobsen (1878–1941) and Frida Mørch (1878–1968). He returned to Norway, where he finished
his secondary education in 1932 before studying law at the University of Oslo
. He graduated with the cand.jur. degree in 1937 and studied at the London School of Economics
before being hired in the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
in 1938. He served as an attaché at the Norwegian legation in Paris
, and had to flee the country in June 1940. In October he reached London, where he worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs-in-exile. Norway had been occupied by Germany
. In October 1941 in London
he married captain's daughter Elsa Tidemand Andersen.
After the war he worked in Norway and as embassy secretary in Moscow and London, before being hired as an assistant secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1950. He was then an embassy councellor in London from 1953 to 1955, deputy under-secretary of state in Norway from 1955 to 1959, Norway's ambassador to Canada
from 1959 to 1961, and ambassador to the Soviet Union
from 1961 to 1965. He then joined Borten's Cabinet as a non-partisan member, and was a State Secretary
in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1965 to 1970. He returned as ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1970 to 1974, then ambassador to the United Kingdom
from 1975 to 1982.
He was decorated as a Commander of the Order of St. Olav in 1964. He died in March 1999 in Oslo.
He was born in South Shields
South Shields
South Shields is a coastal town in Tyne and Wear, England, located at the mouth of the River Tyne to Tyne Dock, and about downstream from Newcastle upon Tyne...
as a son of shipmaster and navy captain Carl Gustav Jacobsen (1878–1941) and Frida Mørch (1878–1968). He returned to Norway, where 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 in 1932 before studying law at the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
. He graduated with the cand.jur. degree in 1937 and studied at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
before being hired in the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the foreign ministry of the Kingdom of Norway...
in 1938. He served as an attaché at the Norwegian legation in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and had to flee the country in June 1940. In October he reached London, where he worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs-in-exile. Norway had been occupied by 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...
. In October 1941 in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
he married captain's daughter Elsa Tidemand Andersen.
After the war he worked in Norway and as embassy secretary in Moscow and London, before being hired as an assistant secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1950. He was then an embassy councellor in London from 1953 to 1955, deputy under-secretary of state in Norway from 1955 to 1959, Norway's ambassador to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
from 1959 to 1961, and ambassador to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
from 1961 to 1965. He then joined Borten's Cabinet as a non-partisan member, and was a State Secretary
State Secretary (Norway)
In Norway, a State Secretary is a partisan political position within the executive branch of government. Contrary to the position Secretary of State in many other countries, the Norwegian State Secretary does not head his or her Ministry, rather, they are second in rank to a Minister...
in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1965 to 1970. He returned as ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1970 to 1974, then ambassador to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
from 1975 to 1982.
He was decorated as a Commander of the Order of St. Olav in 1964. He died in March 1999 in Oslo.