Gunnar Jahn
Encyclopedia
Gunnar Jahn was a Norwegian jurist, economist, statistician, politician for the Liberal Party and resistance member
. He held several important positions, such as Norwegian Minister of Finance and Customs
from 1934 to 1935 and in 1945, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee
from 1941 to 1966 and Governor of the Central Bank of Norway from 1946 to 1954.
He was born in Trondheim
as a son of dentist Christian Fredrik Michael Jahn (1837–1914) and Elisabeth Wilhelmine Wexelsen (1853–1930). He was a grandson of Vilhelm Andreas Wexelsen
, a grandnephew of Marie Wexelsen
and a first cousin of Per Kvist. He finished
his secondary education at Trondheim Cathedral School in 1902 graduated from the Royal Frederick University
with the cand.jur. degree in 1907. He worked as a deputy judge in Lofoten before enrolling at the university again; he graduated in economics in 1909. He was hired in Statistics Norway
in 1910. In April 1911 he married Martha Larsen Jahn.
From 1913 he was a teacher at Kristiania Commerce School
and the university, jobs he left in 1918 and 1920 respectively. From 1917 to 1919 he worked in Rasjoneringsdirektoratet, and from 1919 to 1920 he was the director there. In 1920 he became director of Statistics Norway. He was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
from 1927. From November 1934 to March 1935 he was the Minister of Finance and Customs
in Mowinckel's Third Cabinet. He became a member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee
in 1937, and chairman from 1941 to 1966.
In 1940 he was a member of the Administrative Council
, which tried to maintain Norwegian political governance despite the German invasion
and occupation of Norway. He marked himself as a strong proponent of resistance
to Germany, and was a member of the central leadership of the resistance: "Kretsen" and Hjemmefrontens Ledelse. He was arrested by the Nazi authorities on 25 October 1944, and incarcerated at Akershus Fortress
until 8 December. He was then sent to Grini concentration camp, where he sat until the liberation of Norway
.
After the German surrender, he saw himself as a candidate to become Prime Minister of Norway, but Hjemmefrontens Ledelse chose Paal Berg as their candidate. He instead became Minister of Finance and Customs of the Norwegian interim government, Gerhardsen's First Cabinet, on 25 June. He remained so until 4 November the same year, and also served on the Board of Governors in the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
and the International Monetary Fund
in 1945. He then headed the Central Bank of Norway from 1946 to 1954. He presided over the International Statistical Institute
from 1947 to 1951, and was an honorary member. He was also a member of the Liberal Party's national board for some time. He died in January 1971 in Oslo.
Norwegian resistance movement
The Norwegian resistance to the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany began after Operation Weserübung in 1940 and ended in 1945. It took several forms:...
. He held several important positions, such as Norwegian 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 :...
from 1934 to 1935 and in 1945, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee
Norwegian Nobel Committee
The Norwegian Nobel Committee awards the Nobel Peace Prize each year.Its five members are appointed by the Norwegian Parliament and roughly represent the political makeup of that body.-History:...
from 1941 to 1966 and Governor of the Central Bank of Norway from 1946 to 1954.
He was 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...
as a son of dentist Christian Fredrik Michael Jahn (1837–1914) and Elisabeth Wilhelmine Wexelsen (1853–1930). He was a grandson of Vilhelm Andreas Wexelsen
Vilhelm Andreas Wexelsen
Vilhelm Andreas Wexelsen was a Norwegian bishop and politician for the Liberal Party. He served five terms in the Norwegian Parliament, was Minister of Education and Church Affairs from 1891 to 1892 and from 1898 to 1903 and bishop of Nidaros from 1905 to 1909.Wexelsen graduated as cand.theol....
, a grandnephew of Marie Wexelsen
Marie Wexelsen
Marie Wexelsen was a Norwegian poet, children's writer and novelist, born in Østre Toten, Oppland. She published her first novel in 1858, Vesle-Kari, eller de Forældreløse, under the signature "I. L.". She is particularly remembered for the Christmas carol "Jeg er saa glad hver Julekveld", first...
and a first cousin of Per Kvist. 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 at Trondheim Cathedral School in 1902 graduated from the Royal Frederick University
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...
with the cand.jur. degree in 1907. He worked as a deputy judge in Lofoten before enrolling at the university again; he graduated in economics in 1909. He was hired in Statistics Norway
Statistics Norway
Statistics Norway is the Norwegian statistics bureau. It was established in 1876.Relying on a staff of about 1,000, Statistics Norway publish about 1,000 new statistical releases every year on its web site. All releases are published both in Norwegian and English...
in 1910. In April 1911 he married Martha Larsen Jahn.
From 1913 he was a teacher at Kristiania Commerce School
Oslo Commerce School
Oslo Commerce School is a public high school in Oslo, Norway, specialized to teach financial and business management....
and the university, jobs he left in 1918 and 1920 respectively. From 1917 to 1919 he worked in Rasjoneringsdirektoratet, and from 1919 to 1920 he was the director there. In 1920 he became director of Statistics Norway. He was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
from 1927. From November 1934 to March 1935 he was the 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 :...
in Mowinckel's Third Cabinet. He became a member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee
Norwegian Nobel Committee
The Norwegian Nobel Committee awards the Nobel Peace Prize each year.Its five members are appointed by the Norwegian Parliament and roughly represent the political makeup of that body.-History:...
in 1937, and chairman from 1941 to 1966.
In 1940 he was a member of the Administrative Council
Administrative Council (Norway)
The Administrative Council was a council established by the Supreme Court to govern Norway. The council was established on 15 April 1940, replacing Quisling's First Cabinet, and sat until 25 September, when it was replaced by the Reichskommissariat Norwegen headed by Josef Terboven. The council...
, which tried to maintain Norwegian political governance despite the German invasion
Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
and occupation of Norway. He marked himself as a strong proponent of resistance
Norwegian resistance movement
The Norwegian resistance to the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany began after Operation Weserübung in 1940 and ended in 1945. It took several forms:...
to Germany, and was a member of the central leadership of the resistance: "Kretsen" and Hjemmefrontens Ledelse. He was arrested by the Nazi authorities on 25 October 1944, and incarcerated at Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress or Akershus Castle is a medieval castle that was built to protect Oslo, the capital of Norway. It has also been used as a prison.- Construction :...
until 8 December. He was then sent to Grini concentration camp, where he sat until the liberation of Norway
Victory in Europe Day
Victory in Europe Day commemorates 8 May 1945 , the date when the World War II Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. The formal surrender of the occupying German forces in the Channel Islands was not...
.
After the German surrender, he saw himself as a candidate to become Prime Minister of Norway, but Hjemmefrontens Ledelse chose Paal Berg as their candidate. He instead became Minister of Finance and Customs of the Norwegian interim government, Gerhardsen's First Cabinet, on 25 June. He remained so until 4 November the same year, and also served on the Board of Governors in the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development is one of five institutions that compose the World Bank Group. The IBRD is an international organization whose original mission was to finance the reconstruction of nations devastated by World War II. Now, its mission has expanded to fight...
and the International Monetary Fund
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
in 1945. He then headed the Central Bank of Norway from 1946 to 1954. He presided over the International Statistical Institute
International Statistical Institute
The International Statistical Institute is a professional association of statisticians. The Institut International de Statistique or International Statistical Institute was founded in 1885 although there had been international congresses from 1853.. The Institute publishes a variety of books and...
from 1947 to 1951, and was an honorary member. He was also a member of the Liberal Party's national board for some time. He died in January 1971 in Oslo.
External links
- A collection of digitized materials related to Jahn's association with Linus PaulingLinus PaulingLinus Carl Pauling was an American chemist, biochemist, peace activist, author, and educator. He was one of the most influential chemists in history and ranks among the most important scientists of the 20th century...
.