Ludvig Meyer
Encyclopedia
Ludvig Meyer was a Norwegian barrister, newspaper editor and politician. He belonged to the Norwegian Labour Party
1891 to 1903, and was both party leader,
party secretary as well as editor of the party organ Social-Demokraten
for a period. Before this he had made his mark as the defender of writer Hans Jæger
.
, and was the older brother of Nanna Meyer
.
He graduated with the cand.jur. degree in 1882, and spent his professional life as a barrister
, with access to Supreme Court
cases, from 1886 to 1936. He became known as the defender of writer Hans Jæger
in a high profile case over censorship. Jæger's book Fra Kristiania-Bohêmen
, published on 11 December 1885, was instantly banned by the Ministry of Justice
for its indecency, and confiscated by the police. On 24 December a court order for Jæger was issued. In April 1886 he was sentenced to eighty days in jail and ordered to pay of costs. The sentence was appealed, and with Meyer as the defender, the jail sentence was lowered to sixty days.
Politically Meyer belonged to the Liberal Party in the 1880s, but became disenfranchised with the party during the Hans Jæger case, citing that by censoring the book, the Liberal Party and its associated press did not live up to its name. In 1891 he joined the Norwegian Labour Party
. He quickly rose to prominence within the young party; he became party leader in 1897, and the next year he became editor-in-chief of the party organ Social-Demokraten
as well as party secretary. He was also a member of Kristiania
city council.
In the 1890s Meyer had become wealthy due to real estate
speculation. He spent money to prop op both the party newspaper and the party itself. Some within the Labour Party saw the party as being increasingly dependent on Meyer's funding, which led to unrest. When the booming
real estate market in Kristiania busted
in 1899, Meyer was hit hard. His political position was also affected, and in 1900 he lost the positions as both party leader, party secretary and editor of the party newspaper. When he subsequently left the Labour Party in 1903, this was described as a "political suicide
" by some. In 1923 he briefly became a member of the newly founded Communist Party
Historian Øystein Sørensen
has described Meyer's later life as "vagrant", in the figurative sense.
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....
1891 to 1903, and was both party leader,
party secretary as well as editor of the party organ Social-Demokraten
Dagsavisen
Dagsavisen is a daily newspaper published in Oslo, Norway. The former party organ of the Norwegian Labour Party, the ties loosened over time from 1975 to 1999, and it is now fully independent...
for a period. Before this he had made his mark as the defender of writer Hans Jæger
Hans Jæger
Hans Henrik Jæger was a Norwegian writer, philosopher and anarchist political activist who was part of the Oslo based bohemian group Kristianiabohêmen. He was prosecuted for his book Fra Kristiania-bohêmen and convicted to 60 days' imprisonment in a supreme court ruling in 1886...
.
Biography
Meyer was born in BorreBorre, Norway
Borre is a village in the municipality of Horten, Vestfold county, Norway. The village of Borre had provided the name of the former Borre municipality .-History:...
, and was the older brother of Nanna Meyer
Nanna Meyer
Johanne Marie "Nanna" Meyer was a Norwegian jurist and civil servant.She was born in Åsgårdstrand as the sister of Ludvig Meyer. She graduated with the cand.jur. degree in 1901, and was hired as a secretary in the Ministry of Justice and the Police in 1903. She was one of the main proponents of a...
.
He graduated with the cand.jur. degree in 1882, and spent his professional life as a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, with access to Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Norway
The Supreme Court of Norway was established in 1815 on the basis of the Constitution of Norway's §88, prescribing an independent judiciary. It is located in Oslo and is Norway's highest court...
cases, from 1886 to 1936. He became known as the defender of writer Hans Jæger
Hans Jæger
Hans Henrik Jæger was a Norwegian writer, philosopher and anarchist political activist who was part of the Oslo based bohemian group Kristianiabohêmen. He was prosecuted for his book Fra Kristiania-bohêmen and convicted to 60 days' imprisonment in a supreme court ruling in 1886...
in a high profile case over censorship. Jæger's book Fra Kristiania-Bohêmen
Fra Kristiania-Bohêmen
Fra Kristiania-Bohêmen is a novel from 1885 by Norwegian writer Hans Jæger. The book was confiscated shortly after its publication, and Jæger was sentenced to prison and lost his position as stenographer at the Parliament.-Plot:...
, published on 11 December 1885, was instantly banned by the Ministry of Justice
Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police is a Norwegian government ministry in charge of justice, police and domestic intelligence. The main purpose of the Ministry is to provide for the maintenance and development of the basic guarantees of the rule of law...
for its indecency, and confiscated by the police. On 24 December a court order for Jæger was issued. In April 1886 he was sentenced to eighty days in jail and ordered to pay of costs. The sentence was appealed, and with Meyer as the defender, the jail sentence was lowered to sixty days.
Politically Meyer belonged to the Liberal Party in the 1880s, but became disenfranchised with the party during the Hans Jæger case, citing that by censoring the book, the Liberal Party and its associated press did not live up to its name. In 1891 he joined the Norwegian Labour Party
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....
. He quickly rose to prominence within the young party; he became party leader in 1897, and the next year he became editor-in-chief of the party organ Social-Demokraten
Dagsavisen
Dagsavisen is a daily newspaper published in Oslo, Norway. The former party organ of the Norwegian Labour Party, the ties loosened over time from 1975 to 1999, and it is now fully independent...
as well as party secretary. He was also a member of Kristiania
Oslo
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...
city council.
In the 1890s Meyer had become wealthy due to real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
speculation. He spent money to prop op both the party newspaper and the party itself. Some within the Labour Party saw the party as being increasingly dependent on Meyer's funding, which led to unrest. When the booming
Boom and bust
A credit boom-bust cycle is an episode characterized by a sustained increase in several economics indicators followed by a sharp and rapid contraction. Commonly the boom is driven by a rapid expansion of credit to the private sector accompanied with rising prices of commodities and stock market index...
real estate market in Kristiania busted
Boom and bust
A credit boom-bust cycle is an episode characterized by a sustained increase in several economics indicators followed by a sharp and rapid contraction. Commonly the boom is driven by a rapid expansion of credit to the private sector accompanied with rising prices of commodities and stock market index...
in 1899, Meyer was hit hard. His political position was also affected, and in 1900 he lost the positions as both party leader, party secretary and editor of the party newspaper. When he subsequently left the Labour Party in 1903, this was described as a "political suicide
Political suicide
Political suicide is the concept that a politician or political party would lose widespread support and confidence from the voting public by proposing actions that are seen as unfavourable or that might threaten the status quo. A politician who committed political suicide might be forced to resign...
" by some. In 1923 he briefly became a member of the newly founded Communist Party
Communist Party of Norway
The Communist Party of Norway is a political party in Norway without parliamentary representation. It was formed in 1923, following a split in the Norwegian Labour Party. The party played an important role in the resistance to German occupation during the Second World War, and experienced a brief...
Historian Øystein Sørensen
Øystein Sørensen
Øystein Sørensen is a Norwegian historian. A professor at the University of Oslo since 1996, he has published several books on the history of ideas, including Norwegian nationalism and national socialism, as well as general Norwegian World War II history.Born at Strømmen, he took the cand.philol....
has described Meyer's later life as "vagrant", in the figurative sense.