Johan Hambro
Encyclopedia
Johan Randulf Bull Hambro (24 October 1915 – 27 February 1993) was a Norwegian
journalist, translator and biographer. He was the fourth son of Norwegian politician C. J. Hambro, whose biography he wrote in 1984. He lived in the United States from 1939 to 1982, where he studied and worked as a foreign-affairs journalist, press attaché and consulate-general. He was secretary general of the Norse Federation
for 27 years, from 1955 to 1982. He was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Order of St. Olav in 1975.
, the fourth son of politician C. J. Hambro (1885–1964) and his wife, Gudrun "Dudu" Grieg (1881–1943). He was a paternal grandson of Nico and Edvard Isak Hambro
, and a brother of Carl Joachim
and Edvard Hambro
. His namesake was his second great-grandfather, Johan Randulf Bull
(1749–1829), Norway's first Supreme Court Justice. Hambro married Lore Aickelin in 1945.
neighbourhood in the West End of Oslo
, and enrolled at the Royal Frederick University
in 1933. Following law studies, he graduated in 1939 with a cand.jur. degree, and travelled to the United States to study at Columbia University
in New York. From 1940 to 1945, during the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
, he was employed at the Norwegian general consulate in New York City. He worked as a foreign affairs journalist for the conservative newspaper Aftenposten
from 1946 to 1948 and for the Norwegian News Agency
from 1949 to 1953. He was a press attaché for the Norwegian United Nations
delegation in 1953 and 1954. After that, he was stationed in New York as a foreign correspondent and radio chronicler for Norway.
In 1955, he succeeded Arne Kildal
as secretary general of the non-profit Norse Federation
, and became editor of its periodical, The Norseman. In 1957, Hambro was the chief editor of the Norse Federation's 50th anniversary book, De tok et Norge med seg ("They brought a Norway with them"). He edited its Christmas booklet, Norges Jul ("Norway's Christmas"), in 1975. Hambro was succeeded by Johan Fr. Heyerdahl as secretary general of the Norse Federation in 1982. Two years later, the federation started a summer course for Norwegian students, which it named after Hambro.
Hambro released a biography on his father, C. J. Hambro, in 1984, titled C. J. Hambro: Liv og drøm ("C. J. Hambro: Life and Dream"). The book received good critiques from reviewers, and sold more than 30,000 copies in 1984. The book is known for revealing many secrets about his father's private life and his relationship with Norwegian actress Gyda Christensen
. Like his father, Hambro translated many books from English
to Norwegian
, among them The Fountainhead
by Ayn Rand
in 1949, First Among Equals by Jeffrey Archer in 1985, and A Sport of Nature
by Nadine Gordimer
in 1988.
in 1972. Honorary degree
s were bestowed by Luther College
in 1969 and St. Olaf College in 1979. Hambro was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Order of St. Olav in 1975. He died on 27 February 1993 in Oslo, at age 77.
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...
journalist, translator and biographer. He was the fourth son of Norwegian politician C. J. Hambro, whose biography he wrote in 1984. He lived in the United States from 1939 to 1982, where he studied and worked as a foreign-affairs journalist, press attaché and consulate-general. He was secretary general of the Norse Federation
Norse Federation
The Norse Federation is a Norwegian non-profit organization that was founded it 1907. The organization states that its purpose is to "unit[e] friends of Norway throughout the world". , the organization has approximately 3500 members. It publishes a periodical which is named The Norseman....
for 27 years, from 1955 to 1982. He was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Order of St. Olav in 1975.
Family
Hambro was born on 24 October 1915 in KristianiaOslo
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...
, the fourth son of politician C. J. Hambro (1885–1964) and his wife, Gudrun "Dudu" Grieg (1881–1943). He was a paternal grandson of Nico and Edvard Isak Hambro
Edvard Isak Hambro (educator)
-Personal life:He was born in Bergen as a son of Carl Joachim Hambro and Angelique Cathrine Bull . Edvard Isak Hambro had six sisters and one older brother. His paternal grandfather was a Danish Jew who had migrated to Norway in 1810. He was a maternal grandson of Georg Jacob Bull, brother-in-law...
, and a brother of Carl Joachim
Carl Joachim Hambro (philologist)
Carl Joachim Hambro was a Norwegian philologist, essayist, novelist and translator.He was born in Oslo as a son of Carl Joachim Hambro. He took the cand.philol. degree in 1939, was a lecturer in Norwegian at Sorbonne from 1946 to 1949, and at the same time Paris correspondent for the Norwegian...
and Edvard Hambro
Edvard Hambro
Edvard Isak Hambro was a Norwegian politician. He was the 25th President of the United Nations General Assembly and also served on the UN's International Law Commission from 1972 to 1977.- Biography :...
. His namesake was his second great-grandfather, Johan Randulf Bull
Johan Randulf Bull
Johan Randulf Bull was a Norwegian judge.He was born in Stod, as the brother of Johan Lausen Bull. He took the jurist examination in Copenhagen in 1778, and was a member of Det Norske Selskab there...
(1749–1829), Norway's first Supreme Court Justice. Hambro married Lore Aickelin in 1945.
Career
He grew up in the UranienborgUranienborg, Norway
Uranienborg is a neighborhood in the borough of Frogner in Oslo, Norway.-History:Originally a rural area in the former municipality Aker, it was incorporated into Christiania city in 1859. The property used to have a wonderful view, and it was therefore named after the famous observatory...
neighbourhood in the West End of Oslo
East End and West End of Oslo
The East End and West End are used as names for the two parts of Oslo, Norway, formed by the economic and social separation line that has historically passed along the street Uelands gate...
, and enrolled at 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...
in 1933. Following law studies, he graduated in 1939 with a cand.jur. degree, and travelled to the United States to study at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in New York. From 1940 to 1945, during the occupation of Norway by Nazi 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...
, he was employed at the Norwegian general consulate in New York City. He worked as a foreign affairs journalist for the conservative newspaper Aftenposten
Aftenposten
Aftenposten is Norway's largest newspaper. It retook this position in 2010, taking it from the tabloid Verdens Gang which had been the largest newspaper for several decades. It is based in Oslo. The morning edition, which is distributed across all of Norway, had a circulation of 250,179 in 2007...
from 1946 to 1948 and for the Norwegian News Agency
Norwegian News Agency
The Norwegian News Agency is a Norwegian press agency and wire service that serves many of the largest Norwegian media outlets. It also cooperates closely with the photo agency Scanpix, in which it has a 50% ownership share.NTB was founded in 1867...
from 1949 to 1953. He was a press attaché for the Norwegian United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
delegation in 1953 and 1954. After that, he was stationed in New York as a foreign correspondent and radio chronicler for Norway.
In 1955, he succeeded Arne Kildal
Arne Kildal
Arne Kildal was a Norwegian author, librarian and civil servant.-Background:Arne Kildal was born in Kristiania, the son of politician Birger Kildal. He finished his secondary education in 1903, and took the cand.philol. degree before traveling to the United States to train as a librarian...
as secretary general of the non-profit Norse Federation
Norse Federation
The Norse Federation is a Norwegian non-profit organization that was founded it 1907. The organization states that its purpose is to "unit[e] friends of Norway throughout the world". , the organization has approximately 3500 members. It publishes a periodical which is named The Norseman....
, and became editor of its periodical, The Norseman. In 1957, Hambro was the chief editor of the Norse Federation's 50th anniversary book, De tok et Norge med seg ("They brought a Norway with them"). He edited its Christmas booklet, Norges Jul ("Norway's Christmas"), in 1975. Hambro was succeeded by Johan Fr. Heyerdahl as secretary general of the Norse Federation in 1982. Two years later, the federation started a summer course for Norwegian students, which it named after Hambro.
Hambro released a biography on his father, C. J. Hambro, in 1984, titled C. J. Hambro: Liv og drøm ("C. J. Hambro: Life and Dream"). The book received good critiques from reviewers, and sold more than 30,000 copies in 1984. The book is known for revealing many secrets about his father's private life and his relationship with Norwegian actress Gyda Christensen
Gyda Christensen
Gyda Marthe Kristine Christensen , was a Norwegian actress, dancer, and choreographer. Later also a Managing Director of Nationaltheatret's ballet school in Oslo.-Biography:...
. Like his father, Hambro translated many books from English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
to Norwegian
Norwegian language
Norwegian is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is the official language. Together with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regional variants .These Scandinavian languages together with the Faroese language...
, among them The Fountainhead
The Fountainhead
The Fountainhead is a 1943 novel by Ayn Rand. It was Rand's first major literary success and brought her fame and financial success. More than 6.5 million copies of the book have been sold worldwide....
by Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand was a Russian-American novelist, philosopher, playwright, and screenwriter. She is known for her two best-selling novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged and for developing a philosophical system she called Objectivism....
in 1949, First Among Equals by Jeffrey Archer in 1985, and A Sport of Nature
A Sport of Nature
A Sport of Nature is a 1987 novel by 1991 Nobel laureate Nadine Gordimer.-Plot summary:While still a secondary school student, Kim Capran decides to re-name herself "Hillela". Hillela joins the ANC, she marries a black man from the congress and has a child with him....
by Nadine Gordimer
Nadine Gordimer
Nadine Gordimer is a South African writer and political activist. She was awarded the 1991 Nobel Prize in Literature when she was recognised as a woman "who through her magnificent epic writing has – in the words of Alfred Nobel – been of very great benefit to humanity".Her writing has long dealt...
in 1988.
Death and recognition
In 1958, Hambro was pronounced an honorary citizen of Minneapolis. He was given the Regents Award of St. Olaf CollegeSt. Olaf College
St. Olaf College is a coeducational, residential, four-year, private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1874 by a group of Norwegian-American immigrant pastors and farmers, led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus. The college is named after Olaf II of Norway,...
in 1972. Honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
s were bestowed by Luther College
Luther College (Iowa)
Luther College is a four-year, residential liberal arts institution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, located in Decorah, Iowa, USA...
in 1969 and St. Olaf College in 1979. Hambro was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Order of St. Olav in 1975. He died on 27 February 1993 in Oslo, at age 77.