Nordal Wille
Encyclopedia
Johan Nordal Fischer Wille (28 October 1858 – 4 February 1924) was a Norwegian botanist. He was a professor at the Royal Frederick University
from 1893 to his death, founded the laboratory at the University Botanical Garden and co-founded the Natural History Museum
.
as the son of physician Hans Georg Wille (1803–1879) and his wife Ingeborg Fischer (1811–1875). He was a grandnephew of priest and writer Hans Jacob Wille.
He married three times. The first marriage with Anne Koller, a daughter of Carl Theodor Fredrik Koller, lasted from September 1891 to her death in March 1908. During this period he was a brother-in-law of Rasmus Meyer and Gustav Guldberg, who were married to two of Anne's sisters. The second marriage with Ragna Margrethe Knudsen lasted from September 1911 to her death in July 1917, and finally he married Swedish-born school teacher Ester Victoria Svensson in October 1918.
to take his education. He embarked on an education as a teacher of natural sciences, but became increasingly interested in algae
, a field in which there was no adequate education available in Norway. He studied plant morphology
, plant anatomy
and plant physiology
in different European countries, and conducted several field studies. He was a lecturer at the Swedish Museum of Natural History
and the Stockholm University
between 1883 to 1889. He moved to the Norwegian College of Agriculture in 1889.
In 1893 he was given a newly established professor position at the Royal Frederick University
, which also gave him responsibility over the University Botanical Garden at Tøyen
. In addition, Wille moved to Tøyen. In 1895 he founded a laboratory there. The founding of the laboratory promoted research among students, which would become important to several later researchers, including Wille's lab assistant from 1894 Haaken Hasberg Gran
and, in turn, Gran's assistant Trygve Braarud
.
After the death of professor Axel Blytt in 1898, Wille was also given responsibility of the Botanical Museum. The collections of natural history items were located at the university campus in downtown Kristiania, but this locality had become too small. Together with Waldemar Christofer Brøgger, Wille was instrumental in moving the natural history collections to new localities at Tøyen. This was the foundation of the Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo
. Later, a larger expansion of the university as a whole became necessary. The locality in downtown Kristiania provided little room for spreading out, so a more peripheral location was debated. Wille lobbied for Tøyen, but the site at Blindern
further west was chosen. According to the encyclopedia Norsk biografisk leksikon
, Wille became "bitter" due to this decision.
Wille was also involved in politics, serving as the Conservative Party
chairman of the local chapter in Grünerløkken
from 1911 to 1913. He subscribed to the idea of philanthropy
.
He was a Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav and a Commander, Second Class of the Swedish Order of the Polar Star
. He died in Kristiania in 1924, one year before the name of the city was changed to Oslo.
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...
from 1893 to his death, founded the laboratory at the University Botanical Garden and co-founded the Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo
The Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo is Norway's oldest and largest museum of natural history, situated in Oslo.It traces its roots to the University Botanical Garden, which was founded near Tøyen Manor in 1814...
.
Personal life
Wille was born in HobølHobøl
Hobøl is a municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Elvestad. Hobøl is situated about southeast of Oslo. The parish of Haabøl was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 .The largest village in Hobøl is Tomter, whose train...
as the son of physician Hans Georg Wille (1803–1879) and his wife Ingeborg Fischer (1811–1875). He was a grandnephew of priest and writer Hans Jacob Wille.
He married three times. The first marriage with Anne Koller, a daughter of Carl Theodor Fredrik Koller, lasted from September 1891 to her death in March 1908. During this period he was a brother-in-law of Rasmus Meyer and Gustav Guldberg, who were married to two of Anne's sisters. The second marriage with Ragna Margrethe Knudsen lasted from September 1911 to her death in July 1917, and finally he married Swedish-born school teacher Ester Victoria Svensson in October 1918.
Career
Wille grew up in Hobøl, but eventually moved to 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...
to take his education. He embarked on an education as a teacher of natural sciences, but became increasingly interested in algae
Algae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
, a field in which there was no adequate education available in Norway. He studied plant morphology
Plant morphology
Plant morphology or phytomorphology is the study of the physical form and external structure of plants. This is usually considered distinct from plant anatomy, which is the study of the internal structure of plants, especially at the microscopic level...
, plant anatomy
Plant anatomy
Plant anatomy or phytotomy is the general term for the study of the internal structure of plants. While originally it included plant morphology, which is the description of the physical form and external structure of plants, since the mid-20th century the investigations of plant anatomy are...
and plant physiology
Plant physiology
Plant physiology is a subdiscipline of botany concerned with the functioning, or physiology, of plants. Closely related fields include plant morphology , plant ecology , phytochemistry , cell biology, and molecular biology.Fundamental processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, plant nutrition,...
in different European countries, and conducted several field studies. He was a lecturer at the Swedish Museum of Natural History
Swedish Museum of Natural History
The Swedish Museum of Natural History , in Stockholm, is one of two major museums of natural history in Sweden, the other one being located in Gothenburg....
and the Stockholm University
Stockholm University
Stockholm University is a state university in Stockholm, Sweden. It has over 28,000 students at four faculties, making it one of the largest universities in Scandinavia. The institution is also frequently regarded as one of the top 100 universities in the world...
between 1883 to 1889. He moved to the Norwegian College of Agriculture in 1889.
In 1893 he was given a newly established professor position 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...
, which also gave him responsibility over the University Botanical Garden at Tøyen
Tøyen
Tøyen is a residential area in the central parts of Oslo, Norway, part of the borough of Gamle Oslo.-Location:It is noted for its high concentration of immigrants. The multicultural atmosphere makes Tøyen very trendy and popular with continually rising cost of housing.There are two different...
. In addition, Wille moved to Tøyen. In 1895 he founded a laboratory there. The founding of the laboratory promoted research among students, which would become important to several later researchers, including Wille's lab assistant from 1894 Haaken Hasberg Gran
Haaken Hasberg Gran
-Personal life:Gran was born in Tønsberg as the son of naval captain August Kriegsmann Gran and his wife Agnes Hasberg . He was the paternal grandson of politician Jens Gran, nephew of businessperson Jens Gran, Jr., first cousin of aviator Tryggve Gran and second cousin of writer Gerhard Gran...
and, in turn, Gran's assistant Trygve Braarud
Trygve Braarud
Trygve Braarud was a Norwegian botanist. He specialized in marine biology, and was affiliated with the University of Oslo for most of his career.-Career:...
.
After the death of professor Axel Blytt in 1898, Wille was also given responsibility of the Botanical Museum. The collections of natural history items were located at the university campus in downtown Kristiania, but this locality had become too small. Together with Waldemar Christofer Brøgger, Wille was instrumental in moving the natural history collections to new localities at Tøyen. This was the foundation of the Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo
Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo
The Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo is Norway's oldest and largest museum of natural history, situated in Oslo.It traces its roots to the University Botanical Garden, which was founded near Tøyen Manor in 1814...
. Later, a larger expansion of the university as a whole became necessary. The locality in downtown Kristiania provided little room for spreading out, so a more peripheral location was debated. Wille lobbied for Tøyen, but the site at Blindern
Blindern
Blindern is the main campus of the University of Oslo, located in Nordre Aker in Oslo, Norway.-The campus:Most of the departments of the University of Oslo are located at Blindern; other, smaller campuses include Sentrum , Gaustad , St...
further west was chosen. According to the encyclopedia Norsk biografisk leksikon
Norsk biografisk leksikon
Norsk biografisk leksikon is the largest Norwegian biographical encyclopedia.The first edition was issued between 1921 and 1983, including 19 volumes and 5,100 articles...
, Wille became "bitter" due to this decision.
Wille was also involved in politics, serving as the Conservative Party
Conservative Party of Norway
The Conservative Party is a Norwegian political party. The current leader is Erna Solberg. The party was since the 1920s consistently the second largest party in Norway, but has been surpassed by the growth of the Progress Party in the late 1990s and 2000s...
chairman of the local chapter in Grünerløkken
Grünerløkka
Grünerløkka is a borough of the city of Oslo, Norway. Grünerløkka became part of the city of Oslo in 1858.Grünerløkka was named after Friedrich Grüner who bought a mill in the area from king Christian V of Denmark in 1672 . During the 19th century, Grünerløkka became a working class area...
from 1911 to 1913. He subscribed to the idea of philanthropy
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
.
He was a Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav and a Commander, Second Class of the Swedish Order of the Polar Star
Order of the Polar Star
The Order of the Polar Star is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim....
. He died in Kristiania in 1924, one year before the name of the city was changed to Oslo.