Jens Boyesen
Encyclopedia
Jens Mogens Boyesen was a Norwegian diplomat and politician for the Labour Party
.
At the time Norway was invaded by Germany in 1940, Boyesen was a law student and member of the Labour Party. The Labour cabinet Nygaardsvold
fled to London
in order to avoid an early capitulation. Germany occupied Norway for five years, whereas Boyesen became a part of the resistance movement. He was a messenger for both the Norwegian government-in-exile and the Norwegian legation in Stockholm
, communicating on behalf of the so-called Kretsen, an inner circle of the resistance movement for which he was the secretary. Within Kretsen, he cooperated especially close with former Supreme Court Justice Ferdinand Schjelderup
. Approaching the winter of 1944, Boyesen was no longer safe in Norway, and fled to Sweden. He worked as a secretary for the Norwegian legation in Stockholm until the liberation of Norway in 1945.
After the war Boyesen finished his law studies, graduating as cand.jur. in 1947. He worked as a deputy judge from 1948, and then as an advisor in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
from 1949. He then spent many years as a State Secretary. He was State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1951 to 1954 and in the Ministry of Defence
from 1954 to 1955, both as part of the cabinet Torp. He later returned as State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1963 to 1965, during the fourth cabinet Gerhardsen
.
From 1955 to 1963 he had been Norway's Permanent Representative to NATO. When appointed, he was the youngest ambassador of Norway. In 1964 he was mentioned by Norwegian media as a candidate to take over as Secretary General of NATO
after Dirk Stikker
. Among the mentioned candidates was Manlio Brosio
, who actually got the position. Boyesen was instead sent to Geneva
to serve as ambassador to the international organizations seated in that city, including the European Free Trade Association
. He served from 1968 to 1973.
When the first cabinet Bratteli
assumed office in 1971, Boyesen was tipped by newspapers to take over as Minister of Foreign Affairs. This did not happen. He instead served in Brussels
as Norwegian ambassador to the European Economic Community
and Belgium
from 1973 to 1976, and in Paris
as ambassador to the OECD
from 1977 to 1986.
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
.
At the time Norway was invaded by Germany in 1940, Boyesen was a law student and member of the Labour Party. The Labour cabinet Nygaardsvold
Cabinet Nygaardsvold
Nygaardsvold's Cabinet was appointed on 20 March 1935, the second Labour cabinet in Norway. It closed the brought to an end the non-socialist, minority Governments that had been dominating politics since the introduction of the parliamentary system in 1884, and replaced it with stable, Labour...
fled to 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...
in order to avoid an early capitulation. Germany occupied Norway for five years, whereas Boyesen became a part of the resistance movement. He was a messenger for both the Norwegian government-in-exile and the Norwegian legation in Stockholm
Norwegian legation in Stockholm
The Norwegian Legation in Stockholm played a significant role during the Second World War. Until 9 April 1940 the legation consisted of four persons, and at the end of the war about 1,100 persons were connected to the legation. Refugee cases were among the legation's most central tasks...
, communicating on behalf of the so-called Kretsen, an inner circle of the resistance movement for which he was the secretary. Within Kretsen, he cooperated especially close with former Supreme Court Justice Ferdinand Schjelderup
Ferdinand Schjelderup
Ferdinand Schjelderup was a Norwegian mountaineer, Supreme Court Justice and resistance member during the German occupation of Norway.-Personal life:He was born in Kristiania as the son of Thorleif Frederik Schjelderup and Inga Berven...
. Approaching the winter of 1944, Boyesen was no longer safe in Norway, and fled to Sweden. He worked as a secretary for the Norwegian legation in Stockholm until the liberation of Norway in 1945.
After the war Boyesen finished his law studies, graduating as cand.jur. in 1947. He worked as a deputy judge from 1948, and then as an advisor in the 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...
from 1949. He then spent many years as a State Secretary. He was State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1951 to 1954 and in the Ministry of Defence
Norwegian Ministry of Defence
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Defence is a Norwegian government ministry in charge of the formation and implementation of national security and defence policy, and for the overall management and control of the activities of subordinate agencies. The ministry is located at Glacisgata 1, Oslo,...
from 1954 to 1955, both as part of the cabinet Torp. He later returned as State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1963 to 1965, during the fourth cabinet Gerhardsen
Fourth cabinet Gerhardsen
Gerhardsen's Fourth Cabinet governed Norway between 25 September 1963 and 12 October 1965. The Labour Party cabinet was led by Einar Gerhardsen. It had the following composition:-Cabinet members:-State Secretaries:-References:* - Regjeringen.no...
.
From 1955 to 1963 he had been Norway's Permanent Representative to NATO. When appointed, he was the youngest ambassador of Norway. In 1964 he was mentioned by Norwegian media as a candidate to take over as Secretary General of NATO
Secretary General of NATO
The Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is the chairman of the North Atlantic Council, the supreme decision-making organisation of the defence alliance. The Secretary-General also serves as the leader of the organisation's staff and as its chief spokesman...
after Dirk Stikker
Dirk Stikker
Dirk Uipko Stikker, GBE, GCVO was a Dutch banker, industrialist, politician, and diplomat.Born in Winschoten, he studied law at the University of Groningen. After his studies he began a career in the banking sector. In 1935, he became director of Heineken International, the famous beer company...
. Among the mentioned candidates was Manlio Brosio
Manlio Brosio
Manlio Giovanni Brosio was an Italian lawyer, diplomat, politician and the fourth Secretary General of NATO between 1964 and 1971.-Biography:...
, who actually got the position. Boyesen was instead sent to Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
to serve as ambassador to the international organizations seated in that city, including the European Free Trade Association
European Free Trade Association
The European Free Trade Association or EFTA is a free trade organisation between four European countries that operates parallel to, and is linked to, the European Union . EFTA was established on 3 May 1960 as a trade bloc-alternative for European states who were either unable to, or chose not to,...
. He served from 1968 to 1973.
When the first cabinet Bratteli
First cabinet Bratteli
The Bratteli's First Cabinet governed Norway between 17 March 1971 and 18 October 1972. The Labour Party cabinet was led by Trygve Bratteli.On 8 May 1972 there was a cabinet reshuffle...
assumed office in 1971, Boyesen was tipped by newspapers to take over as Minister of Foreign Affairs. This did not happen. He instead served in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
as Norwegian ambassador to the European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
from 1973 to 1976, and 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...
as ambassador to the OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an international economic organisation of 34 countries founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade...
from 1977 to 1986.