Harald Ulrik Sverdrup (politician)
Encyclopedia
Harald Ulrik Sverdrup was a Norwegian priest and politician.
He was born at Jarlsberg Manor in Vestfold
. His brother Johan Sverdrup
would found the Liberal Party and become Prime Minister of Norway
in 1884.
He graduated as cand.theol.
in 1837, and worked as a senior technical officer (amanuensis) at the University Library of Oslo
from 1837 to 1845. In 1845 he was appointed to a clerical position, that of chaplain
in Leikanger
. In 1849 the district of Balestrand
was separated from Leikanger as an own parish
, and Sverdrup became vicar
(sogneprest) of the new parish. He published several works, mostly based on Erik Pontoppidan
's explanation of the Luther's Small Catechism
.
As his brother, Harald Ulrik Sverdrup became involved in politics. When Balestrand became a municipality
of its own in 1849, Sverdrup became its first mayor. He sat as mayor until 1879. He was among the establishers of the local savings bank
in 1847, and of the transport company Nordre Bergenhus Amts Dampskibe
(later: Fylkesbaatane i Sogn og Fjordane) with Jan Henrik Nitter Hansen
and Michael Aubert in 1858.
He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1851, representing the constituency of Nordre Bergenhus Amt. He was re-elected in 1854, 1857, 1859, 1862, 1865 and 1868. In 1870 he lost the election due to disagreements with Søren Jaabæk
and his supporters, but Sverdrup later returned for a final term from 1874. Harald Ulrik Sverdrup stepped down as a priest in 1883.
When he stepped down, his son Jakob Liv Rosted Sverdrup stood for election, and won. He also became a government minister.
A daughter of Harald Ulrik Sverdrup married the priest and Nynorsk
proponent Eirik Olson Bruhjell. They had met while Sverdrup was the private tutor of Bruhjell. Another of his sons, Johan Edvard Sverdrup, became a professor of theology. One of Johan's sons, Harald Ulrik Sverdrup, Jr., went on to become a well-known oceanographer and meteorologist.
He was born at Jarlsberg Manor in Vestfold
Vestfold
is a county in Norway, bordering Buskerud and Telemark. The county administration is in Tønsberg.Vestfold is located west of the Oslofjord, as the name indicates. It includes many smaller, but well-known towns in Norway, such as Larvik, Sandefjord, Tønsberg and Horten. The river Numedalslågen runs...
. His brother Johan Sverdrup
Johan Sverdrup
Johan Sverdrup was a Norwegian politician from the Liberal Party. He was the first Prime Minister of Norway after the introduction of parliamentarism. Sverdrup was Prime Minister from 1884 to 1889.- Early years :...
would found the Liberal Party and become Prime Minister of Norway
Prime Minister of Norway
The Prime Minister of Norway is the political leader of Norway and the Head of His Majesty's Government. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Stortinget , to their political party, and ultimately the...
in 1884.
He graduated as 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...
in 1837, and worked as a senior technical officer (amanuensis) at the University Library of Oslo
University Library of Oslo
The University Library of Oslo is a library connected to the University of Oslo.Like the University, it was established in 1811 with Georg Sverdrup as the first head librarian. It originally doubled as the Norwegian national library, and was located at the old University of Oslo campus.In 1913 the...
from 1837 to 1845. In 1845 he was appointed to a clerical position, that of chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
in Leikanger
Leikanger
is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center is the village of Leikanger, which is also the administrative center of Sogn og Fjordane county....
. In 1849 the district of Balestrand
Balestrand
Balestrand is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center is the village of Balestrand....
was separated from Leikanger as an own parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
, and Sverdrup became vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
(sogneprest) of the new parish. He published several works, mostly based on Erik Pontoppidan
Erik Pontoppidan
Erik Pontoppidan was a Danish author, bishop, historian and antiquary, born in Aarhus August 24, 1698; died in Copenhagen December 20, 1764. He was educated in Fredericia , after which he was a private tutor in Norway, and then studied in Holland, and in London and Oxford, England...
's explanation of the Luther's Small Catechism
Luther's Small Catechism
Luther's Small Catechism was written by Martin Luther and published in 1529 for the training of children. Luther's Small Catechism reviews The Ten Commandments, The Apostles' Creed, The Lord's Prayer, The Sacrament of Holy Baptism, The Office of the Keys & Confession, and The Sacrament of the...
.
As his brother, Harald Ulrik Sverdrup became involved in politics. When Balestrand became a municipality
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
of its own in 1849, Sverdrup became its first mayor. He sat as mayor until 1879. He was among the establishers of the local savings bank
Savings bank
A savings bank is a financial institution whose primary purpose is accepting savings deposits. It may also perform some other functions.In Europe, savings banks originated in the 19th or sometimes even the 18th century. Their original objective was to provide easily accessible savings products to...
in 1847, and of the transport company Nordre Bergenhus Amts Dampskibe
Fjord1 Fylkesbaatane
Fjord1 Fylkesbaatane is a Norwegian transport company...
(later: Fylkesbaatane i Sogn og Fjordane) with Jan Henrik Nitter Hansen
Jan Henrik Nitter Hansen
Jan Henrik Nitter Hansen was a Norwegian businessman and politician.He was born in Luster. He later relocated to Lærdalsøyri, and became the most significant merchant and landowner there. Much of his real estate was bought at an auction in 1828. He also bought a number of ships, which were kept in...
and Michael Aubert in 1858.
He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1851, representing the constituency of Nordre Bergenhus Amt. He was re-elected in 1854, 1857, 1859, 1862, 1865 and 1868. In 1870 he lost the election due to disagreements with Søren Jaabæk
Søren Jaabæk
Søren Pedersen Jaabæk was a Norwegian politician and farmer. Jaabæk is the longest-serving member of the Parliament of Norway in the history of Norway, and was one of the founders of the Liberal Party of Norway....
and his supporters, but Sverdrup later returned for a final term from 1874. Harald Ulrik Sverdrup stepped down as a priest in 1883.
When he stepped down, his son Jakob Liv Rosted Sverdrup stood for election, and won. He also became a government minister.
A daughter of Harald Ulrik Sverdrup married the priest and Nynorsk
Nynorsk
Nynorsk or New Norwegian is one of two official written standards for the Norwegian language, the other being Bokmål. The standard language was created by Ivar Aasen during the mid-19th century, to provide a Norwegian alternative to the Danish language which was commonly written in Norway at the...
proponent Eirik Olson Bruhjell. They had met while Sverdrup was the private tutor of Bruhjell. Another of his sons, Johan Edvard Sverdrup, became a professor of theology. One of Johan's sons, Harald Ulrik Sverdrup, Jr., went on to become a well-known oceanographer and meteorologist.