Jonas Rein
Encyclopedia
Jonas Rein was a Norwegian priest, poet and member of the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll
that wrote the Constitution of Norway
on 17 May 1814
.
as the son of priest Ole Rein (1729–1792) and his wife Margretha Hansdatter Ross. She died two weeks after Jonas' birth. In 1763 the family moved to Jevnaker
, where his father was hired as vicar
. Rein took his examen artium
in 1777, and studied at the University of Copenhagen
. He started studying theology
, but soon switched to literature and philosophy
. He graduated in 1780. While a student in Copenhagen
, he was a member of the Norwegian Society
(Det Norske Selskab), a literary society for Norwegian students in the city. Among his personal friends were Johan Herman Wessel
and Johan Vibe
. The members of the Norwegian Society came to play a central role in the wakening of Norwegian patriotic awareness at the close of the eighteenth century.
In 1780 Rein returned to Norway, working mostly as a private tutor. He debuted as a playwright, but the play did not reach the stage. In 1787 he returned to Denmark to seek a post as a civil servant. After one rejection, he took the cand.philol. degree in 1789. He was appointed as vicar
of northern Kautokeino
in 1791, but never assumed office; instead he chose to become curate
in Skjeberg
in 1792. He left in 1799, and in 1800 he became vicar in Eidanger
and Brevik
. From 1808 he was the vicar of Nykirken
in Bergen.
In the meantime Rein had developed into a recognized poet. He published the poetry collections Samlede Digte (two volumes, 1802) and Nyeste Digte (1810). He was also a renowned speaker. In 1814
he was elected for the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll
that wrote the Constitution of Norway
. He distinguished himself as Norwegian patriot, and held animosity towards Sweden. The Constituent Assembly elected Crown Prince Christian Frederick of Denmark
as King of Norway, but after the Swedish campaign against Norway
during the summer, Norway fell into Swedish hands with Charles III John
as King, although in a loose personal union
. Rein's anti-Swedish sentiments might have cost him the position of Bishop of Bergen, which became vacant in 1816. In 1817 he co-founded the patriotic magazine Den norske Tilskuer together with Christian Magnus Falsen
and Herman Foss.
he married Anna Cathrine Arbo (1756–1794), a grandaunt of painter Peter Nicolai Arbo
. In February 1796 in Berg
he married Fredrikke Bergersen (1779–1856). He had six daughters. He died in November 1821 in Bergen, and was buried at Nykirkegården.
At Nykirken one finds a memorial that is decorated every 17 May by the commander of the Nordnæs Bataillon in commemoration of Rein's service to Norway. Also, in 1882 a street at Nygård in Bergen was named after him.
Eidsvoll
is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the Romerike traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Sundet.-Name:...
that wrote the Constitution of Norway
Constitution of Norway
The Constitution of Norway was first adopted on May 16, 1814 by the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll , then signed and dated May 17...
on 17 May 1814
Norway in 1814
1814 was a pivotal year in the history of Norway. It started with Norway in a union with the Kingdom of Denmark subject to a naval blockade being ceded to the king of Sweden. In May a constitutional convention declared Norway an independent kingdom. By the end of the year the Norwegian parliament...
.
Career
He was born in ØksendalØksendal
Øksendal is a former municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is located in the northern part of the present-day municipality of Sunndal, along the Sunndalsfjord.-History:...
as the son of priest Ole Rein (1729–1792) and his wife Margretha Hansdatter Ross. She died two weeks after Jonas' birth. In 1763 the family moved to Jevnaker
Jevnaker
Jevnaker is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Jevnaker with a population of 4,302.The parish of Jævnaker was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
, where his father was hired as 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...
. Rein took his examen artium
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...
in 1777, and studied at the University of Copenhagen
University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is the oldest and largest university and research institution in Denmark. Founded in 1479, it has more than 37,000 students, the majority of whom are female , and more than 7,000 employees. The university has several campuses located in and around Copenhagen, with the...
. He started studying theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, but soon switched to literature and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
. He graduated in 1780. While a student in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, he was a member of the Norwegian Society
The Norwegian Society
The Norwegian Society was a literary society for Norwegian students in Copenhagen. Its members included authors, poets and philosophers. The Norwegian Society was formed in 1772 by Ove Gjerløw Meyer...
(Det Norske Selskab), a literary society for Norwegian students in the city. Among his personal friends were Johan Herman Wessel
Johan Herman Wessel
thumb|Johan Herman WesselJohan Herman Wessel was a Norwegian-Danish poet. Some of his satirical poems are still popular.-Biography:...
and Johan Vibe
Johan Vibe
Johan Vibe was a Danish-Danish military officer and engineer, who was appointed Governor-General of Norway by the Danish crown from 10 April 1708 until his death.-Biography:...
. The members of the Norwegian Society came to play a central role in the wakening of Norwegian patriotic awareness at the close of the eighteenth century.
In 1780 Rein returned to Norway, working mostly as a private tutor. He debuted as a playwright, but the play did not reach the stage. In 1787 he returned to Denmark to seek a post as a civil servant. After one rejection, he took the cand.philol. degree in 1789. He was appointed as 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...
of northern Kautokeino
Kautokeino
or Guovdageaidnu , is a municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Guovdageaidnu/Kautokeino...
in 1791, but never assumed office; instead he chose to become curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
in Skjeberg
Skjeberg
Skjeberg is a former municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The last administrative centre was Borgenhaugen.The parish of Skjeberg was established as a municipality January 1, 1838...
in 1792. He left in 1799, and in 1800 he became vicar in Eidanger
Eidanger
Eidanger is a rural parish and former municipality of Porsgrunn, in Telemark County, Norway.-History:Eidanger was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . It was merged with Porsgrunn on 1 January 1964....
and Brevik
Brevik
is a town in Telemark, Norway with an estimated population of 2,700. Brevik was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 , but was merged with Porsgrunn on January 1, 1964. Brevik is regarded one of the best preserved towns from the sailing ship era...
. From 1808 he was the vicar of Nykirken
Nykirken
Nykirken is a cruciform church located in Bergen, Norway. It is located at Nykirkeallmenningen between Strandgaten and Vågen...
in Bergen.
In the meantime Rein had developed into a recognized poet. He published the poetry collections Samlede Digte (two volumes, 1802) and Nyeste Digte (1810). He was also a renowned speaker. In 1814
Norway in 1814
1814 was a pivotal year in the history of Norway. It started with Norway in a union with the Kingdom of Denmark subject to a naval blockade being ceded to the king of Sweden. In May a constitutional convention declared Norway an independent kingdom. By the end of the year the Norwegian parliament...
he was elected for the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll
Eidsvoll
is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the Romerike traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Sundet.-Name:...
that wrote the Constitution of Norway
Constitution of Norway
The Constitution of Norway was first adopted on May 16, 1814 by the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll , then signed and dated May 17...
. He distinguished himself as Norwegian patriot, and held animosity towards Sweden. The Constituent Assembly elected Crown Prince Christian Frederick of Denmark
Christian VIII of Denmark
Christian VIII , was king of Denmark from 1839 to 1848 and, as Christian Frederick, king of Norway in 1814. He was the eldest son of Hereditary Prince Frederick of Denmark and Norway and Sophia Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, born in 1786 at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen...
as King of Norway, but after the Swedish campaign against Norway
Swedish campaign against Norway (1814)
The Swedish-Norwegian War, also known as the Campaign against Norway, was fought between Sweden and Norway in the summer of 1814. The war resulted in Norway entering into union with Sweden, but with its own constitution and parliament.-Background:...
during the summer, Norway fell into Swedish hands with Charles III John
Charles XIV John of Sweden
Charles XIV & III John, also Carl John, Swedish and Norwegian: Karl Johan was King of Sweden and King of Norway from 1818 until his death...
as King, although in a loose personal union
Union between Sweden and Norway
The Union between Sweden and Norway , officially the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway, consisted of present-day Sweden and Norway between 1814 and 1905, when they were united under one monarch in a personal union....
. Rein's anti-Swedish sentiments might have cost him the position of Bishop of Bergen, which became vacant in 1816. In 1817 he co-founded the patriotic magazine Den norske Tilskuer together with Christian Magnus Falsen
Christian Magnus Falsen
Christian Magnus Falsen was a Norwegian constitutional father, statesman, jurist, and historian. He was an important member of the constitutional assembly and was one of the writers of the constitutional laws....
and Herman Foss.
Personal life
Rein was married twice. In December 1791 in EikerEiker
Eiker is a traditional district in the county of Buskerud, Norway.-History:Eiker consists of the municipalities of Nedre Eiker and Øvre Eiker . The area is located in the southern part of Buskerud county....
he married Anna Cathrine Arbo (1756–1794), a grandaunt of painter Peter Nicolai Arbo
Peter Nicolai Arbo
Peter Nicolai Arbo was a Norwegian painter, who specialized in painting motifs from Norwegian history and images from Norse mythology...
. In February 1796 in Berg
Berg, Østfold
Berg is a former parish and municipality which now forms part of Halden municipality in Østfold county, Norway.-History:Berg was the main parish in a district which included Rokke and Halden until 1721. Halden subsequently became the main parish in the district. By a royal proclamation in 1769,...
he married Fredrikke Bergersen (1779–1856). He had six daughters. He died in November 1821 in Bergen, and was buried at Nykirkegården.
Legacy