Maren Sars
Encyclopedia
Maren Cathrine Sars was a Norwegian socialite.
as a daughter of priest Johan Ernst Welhaven (1775–1828) and Else Margrethe Cammermeyer (1785–1853). She was a sister of Johan Sebastian
and Elisabeth "Lise" Welhaven
.
In August 1831 in Bergen she married priest and professor Michael Sars
(1805–1869). She had several notable children; historian Ernst Sars
, zoologist Georg Ossian Sars and singer Eva Nansen
. She had a total of fourteen children, nine of whom reached adulthood. Through Eva she was the mother-in-law of Fridtjof Nansen
, and through another daughter Mally she was the mother-in-law of Thorvald Lammers
. She was also an aunt of Hjalmar
and Kristian Welhaven
.
and Manger
where her husband was a vicar. In 1854 the family moved to Christiania
where her husband had become professor.
The family home became a notable meeting place for liberal and intellectual citizens of Norway's capital. It has been called "Christiania's first salon
". Among the people who gathered here Ola Thommessen
, Lars Holst
, Oda Krohg
, Mathilde Schjøtt
, Hartvig Lassen
and Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
. Mally and Eva provided music and song. Her sons Ernst and Ossian even lived with her, after Michael died in 1869. Also, her sister Elisabeth lived with her for many years; she was a talented writer and storyteller. Herself, Maren Sars contributed with storytelling as well, in addition to being the hostess.
She died in December 1898. After her death, Maren's daughter Eva, who was married to Fridtjof Nansen
, took over the role as hostess for the city's intellectuals, who gathered at their home Godthaab and later Polhøgda
.
Personal life
She was born in BergenBergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
as a daughter of priest Johan Ernst Welhaven (1775–1828) and Else Margrethe Cammermeyer (1785–1853). She was a sister of Johan Sebastian
Johan Sebastian Welhaven
Johan Sebastian Cammermeyer Welhaven was a Norwegian author, poet, critic and art theorist.-Background:...
and Elisabeth "Lise" Welhaven
Elisabeth Welhaven
-Personal life:She was born in Bergen as a daughter of priest Johan Ernst Welhaven and Else Margrethe Cammermeyer . She was a sister of Johan Sebastian and Maren Sars....
.
In August 1831 in Bergen she married priest and professor Michael Sars
Michael Sars
Michael Sars was a Norwegian theologian and biologist.-Biography:Sars was born in Bergen, Norway. He studied natural history and theology at Royal Frederick University from 1823 and completed a cand.theol. degree in 1828. For several years he taught at a number of different schools, firstly in...
(1805–1869). She had several notable children; historian Ernst Sars
Ernst Sars
Johan Ernst Welhaven Sars was a Norwegian historian, publicist and editor. His main work was Udsigt over den norske Historie, four volumes issued from 1873 to 1891. He co-edited the magazines Nyt norsk Tidskrift from 1877 to 1878, and Nyt Tidsskrift from 1882 to 1887...
, zoologist Georg Ossian Sars and singer Eva Nansen
Eva Nansen
Eva Helene Nansen was a celebrated Norwegian mezzosoprano singer. She was also a pioneer of women's skiing.-Personal life:...
. She had a total of fourteen children, nine of whom reached adulthood. Through Eva she was the mother-in-law of Fridtjof Nansen
Fridtjof Nansen
Fridtjof Wedel-Jarlsberg Nansen was a Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat, humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. In his youth a champion skier and ice skater, he led the team that made the first crossing of the Greenland interior in 1888, and won international fame after reaching a...
, and through another daughter Mally she was the mother-in-law of Thorvald Lammers
Thorvald Lammers
Thorvald Lammers was a Norwegian baritone singer, conductor, composer and biographer. He made his song début in Oslo in 1873. He founded the choir known as Korforeningen in 1879, and conducted it until 1909. Around 1900, Lammers was regarded as Norway's most important male singer...
. She was also an aunt of Hjalmar
Hjalmar Welhaven
Hjalmar Welhaven was a Norwegian architect, palace manager, and sportsman.-Personal life:Welhaven was born in Christiania as the son of writer Johan Sebastian Welhaven and Josephine Angelica Bidoluac. He married painter Margrethe Petersen Backer in 1876...
and Kristian Welhaven
Kristian Welhaven
Kristian Welhaven was a Norwegian police officer. He was chief of police of Oslo for 27 years, from 1927 to 1954. He was a leading force in establishing an organized Norwegian intelligence service before World War II, and in re-establishing it after the war...
.
Career
She grew up in Bergen, and after marrying she moved to KinnKinn
Kinn is a small island west of the town of Florø in the municipality of Flora, Norway. The island lies about west of the neighboring island of Reksta and the village of Rognaldsvåg, which is the main population center for the area...
and Manger
Manger, Norway
Manger is a former municipality in Hordaland county, Norway.It was created as Manger formannskapsdistrikt in 1837. On 1 January 1871 the district Herdla with 2,484 inhabitants split away to form a municipality of its own, and on 1 January 1910 the same thing happened with Hjelme. The splits left...
where her husband was a vicar. In 1854 the family moved to Christiania
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...
where her husband had become professor.
The family home became a notable meeting place for liberal and intellectual citizens of Norway's capital. It has been called "Christiania's first salon
Salon (gathering)
A salon is a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and partly to refine taste and increase their knowledge of the participants through conversation. These gatherings often consciously followed Horace's definition of the aims of poetry, "either to...
". Among the people who gathered here Ola Thommessen
Ola Thommessen
Ola Thommessen was a Norwegian newspaper editor. He was the long-time editor of Verdens Gang and Tidens Tegn.-Early and personal life:...
, Lars Holst
Lars Holst
Lars Kristian Holst was a Norwegian journalist, newspaper editor and politician. He was editor-in-chief of Dagbladet from 1883 to 1898 and chairman of the Liberal Party of Norway from 1900 to 1903.-Personal life:...
, Oda Krohg
Oda Krohg
Oda Krohg, born Othilia Pauline Christine Lasson , was a Norwegian painter, and the wife of her teacher and colleague Christian Krohg....
, Mathilde Schjøtt
Mathilde Schjøtt
Mathilde Schjøtt was a Norwegian writer, literary critic, biographer and feminist. She made her literary debut with the anonymous Venindernes samtale om Kvindens Underkuelse in 1871. She was a literary critic for the magazine Nyt Tidsskrift, and her play Rosen was published anonymously in this...
, Hartvig Lassen
Hartvig Lassen
Hartvig Marcus Lassen was a Norwegian editor and literary historian.-Personal life:He was born in Bergen as a son of police chief and burgomaster Albert Lassen and his wife Abigael Vogt Monrad . He was a nephew of Lars Monrad and Christian Lassen...
and Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
Bjørnstjerne Martinius Bjørnson was a Norwegian writer and the 1903 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate. Bjørnson is considered as one of The Four Greats Norwegian writers; the others being Henrik Ibsen, Jonas Lie, and Alexander Kielland...
. Mally and Eva provided music and song. Her sons Ernst and Ossian even lived with her, after Michael died in 1869. Also, her sister Elisabeth lived with her for many years; she was a talented writer and storyteller. Herself, Maren Sars contributed with storytelling as well, in addition to being the hostess.
She died in December 1898. After her death, Maren's daughter Eva, who was married to Fridtjof Nansen
Fridtjof Nansen
Fridtjof Wedel-Jarlsberg Nansen was a Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat, humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. In his youth a champion skier and ice skater, he led the team that made the first crossing of the Greenland interior in 1888, and won international fame after reaching a...
, took over the role as hostess for the city's intellectuals, who gathered at their home Godthaab and later Polhøgda
Polhøgda
Polhøgda is a property between Lysaker and Fornebu in Bærum, Norway.-Use by Fridtjof Nansen:The property originally belonged to Fornebo farm, but was separated from the farm in 1897. Construction on the property took place in 1900 and 1901. It was the home of Fridtjof Nansen and Eva Nansen from...
.