Ole Thomesen
Encyclopedia
Ole Thomesen was a Norwegian jurist and politician for the Liberal Party. A member of the Norwegian Parliament for five terms, he became known as a radical and liberal politician. He spent his professional career as a jurist working in various parts of Eastern Norway.
as the son of merchant Claus Thomesen and his wife Inger Pedersen. His older brother Thomes Thomesen
was a merchant and politician. Through him Ole Thomesen was an uncle of feminist, journalist and politician Fernanda Nissen
. Another niece, painter Sophie Marie Stoltenberg Thomesen, married painter Erik Werenskiold
. In March 1850 he married Johanne Jacobine Aalborg (1824–1893).
, as he wanted an academic education instead of becoming a merchant. He took the examen artium
in 1837 and the cand.jur. degree in 1843. Then, after half a year as a junior solicitor in Vågå
he returned to Kragerø. However in 1848 he returned to Vågå as acting attorney. He was later a junior solicitor in Lillehammer
before moving to Ringsaker
in 1853 and Faaberg
in 1855, where he worked as an attorney and farmer. He was also involved when a Norwegian-owned (as opposed to British-owned) steamship company trafficking the lake Mjøsa
was established in 1853. As the company needed new ships, one of the ships that was ordered was Skibladner
, and Thomesen personally signed the contract for building the ship. Built in Motala
, Skibladner became operational in 1856, and is still in operation . The encyclopedia Store norske leksikon
reports that Skibladner is probably the second oldest paddle steamer
in the world, behind the Romanian Tudor Vladimirescu.
In 1867 Thomesen returned to Kristiania. After two years as acting assessor
in the city court
, he got the position on a permanent basis in 1869. In February 1874 he was appointed as district stipendiary magistrate in Nedre Telemark. He resided at Gvarv
. He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from the constituency Bratsberg Amt
in 1877,
1880, 1883, 1886 and 1889, since 1884 representing the Liberal Party. From 1883 he was a member of the Lagting
. As such he was a candidate to participate in the Impeachment Court
of 1883–1884, composed of Lagting members and Supreme Court Justices
, but he was weeded out as the counsel for the defence
took care to decline the candidatures of some of the more liberal and intellectual Lagting members. The aim was to put pressure on the remaining Lagting members, whom the conservatives called "the non-competent part of the court", but this did not succeed.
As a politician Thomesen was, already from an early age, more radical than party leader and Prime Minister
Johan Sverdrup
. He was a strong proponent of public saving, and advocated liberal rules of suffrage—for male citizens. He also supported separation of church and state
, and opposed the religious influence in his party, proponents of which would later break out to form the more lay
-Christian Moderate Liberal Party
. Thomesen was also anti-Swedish Union
. He advocated republicanist
rule, citing that the head of the executive branch of government should be vested with constitutional
responsibility, and be elected for his skills. However, he also advocated the parliamentary system
with a weak executive branch compared to the legislature
.
He eventually became an outspoken opponent of Prime Minister Johan Sverdrup, perceiving him as not radical enough. In December 1888 he hinted that Sverdrup was indirectly responsible for Ole Richter
's suicide; as a result Thomesen was admonished through a Royal Resolution. He also antagonized other Liberal parliament members from his same constituency, notably Viggo Ullmann
. Ultimately he was not re-elected for a sixth parliamentary term. He retired as a district stipendiary magistrate in August 1892, and moved to Sandvika
. He died in eastern Bærum in October 1905.
Personal life
He was born in KragerøKragerø
is a town and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Vestmar. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Kragerø....
as the son of merchant Claus Thomesen and his wife Inger Pedersen. His older brother Thomes Thomesen
Thomes Thomesen
Thomes Thomesen was a Norwegian merchant and politician.He was a merchant, ship-owner and shipbuilder in the town of Kragerø. He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from the city in 1862,and served one term....
was a merchant and politician. Through him Ole Thomesen was an uncle of feminist, journalist and politician Fernanda Nissen
Fernanda Nissen
Petra Gregorine Fernanda Nissen was a Norwegian journalist, literary critic, theatre critic, politician and feminist pioneer.-Early and personal life:...
. Another niece, painter Sophie Marie Stoltenberg Thomesen, married painter Erik Werenskiold
Erik Werenskiold
Erik Theodor Werenskiold was a Norwegian painter and illustrator. He is especially known for his drawings for the...
. In March 1850 he married Johanne Jacobine Aalborg (1824–1893).
Career
Ole Thomesen attended his early school in Kragerø, but then moved to ChristianiaOslo
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...
, as he wanted an academic education instead of becoming a merchant. He took the 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 1837 and the cand.jur. degree in 1843. Then, after half a year as a junior solicitor in Vågå
Vågå
Vågå is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Vågåmo....
he returned to Kragerø. However in 1848 he returned to Vågå as acting attorney. He was later a junior solicitor in Lillehammer
Lillehammer
is a town and municipality in Oppland county, Norway, globally known for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. As of May 2011, the population of the town of Lillehammer was...
before moving to Ringsaker
Ringsaker
is a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Brumunddal.The municipality of Ringsaker was established on 1 January 1838...
in 1853 and Faaberg
Fåberg
Fåberg is a village and former municipality in Oppland county, Norway.The parish of Faaberg was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . On January 1, 1964 Fåberg was incorporated into the neighboring municipality Lillehammer. Prior to the merger Fåberg had 13,381 inhabitants.The district...
in 1855, where he worked as an attorney and farmer. He was also involved when a Norwegian-owned (as opposed to British-owned) steamship company trafficking the lake Mjøsa
Mjøsa
Mjøsa is Norway's largest lake, as well as one of the deepest lakes in Norway and in Europe as a whole, after Hornindalsvatnet. It is located in the southern part of Norway, about 100 km north of Oslo...
was established in 1853. As the company needed new ships, one of the ships that was ordered was Skibladner
Skibladner
PS Skibladner is a paddle steamer operating on the lake of Mjøsa in Norway.Skibladner is a sidewheel design, and her maiden voyage was on 2 August 1856, making her the world's oldest paddle steamer still in timetabled service...
, and Thomesen personally signed the contract for building the ship. Built in Motala
Motala
Motala is a locality and the seat of Motala Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden with 29,798 inhabitants in 2005. It is the third largest city of Östergötland, following Linköping and Norrköping...
, Skibladner became operational in 1856, and is still in operation . The encyclopedia Store norske leksikon
Store norske leksikon
Store norske leksikon, abbreviated SNL, is currently the second most comprehensive contemporary Norwegian language encyclopedia. The SNL was created in 1978 when the two publishing houses Aschehoug and Gyldendal merged their encyclopedias and created the company Kunnskapsforlaget. The name...
reports that Skibladner is probably the second oldest paddle steamer
Paddle steamer
A paddle steamer is a steamship or riverboat, powered by a steam engine, using paddle wheels to propel it through the water. In antiquity, Paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were wheelers driven by animals or humans...
in the world, behind the Romanian Tudor Vladimirescu.
In 1867 Thomesen returned to Kristiania. After two years as acting assessor
Assessor (law)
In some jurisdictions, an assessor is a judge's or magistrate's assistant. This is in fact the historical meaning of this word.-By country:In Denmark, it was the former title given to Supreme Court judges. Today the title is given to Deputy Judges...
in the city court
Oslo District Court
Oslo District Court is the district court serving Oslo, Norway. Cases may be appealed to Borgarting Court of Appeal. As the largest district court in Norway, it handles about 20% of all cases in the country...
, he got the position on a permanent basis in 1869. In February 1874 he was appointed as district stipendiary magistrate in Nedre Telemark. He resided at Gvarv
Gvarv
Gvarv is a village in Sauherad, Telemark, Norway.Gvarv is famous for its apples, sweet cherries and sour cherries ....
. He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from the constituency Bratsberg Amt
Telemark
is a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:...
in 1877,
1880, 1883, 1886 and 1889, since 1884 representing the Liberal Party. From 1883 he was a member of the Lagting
Lagting
Lagting, literally "Law Ting", can refer to:*Lagting, the Parliament of Åland*Lagting, the former quasi-upper house of the parliament of Norway *Løgting, the parliament of the Faroe Islands...
. As such he was a candidate to participate in the Impeachment Court
Impeachment (Norway)
In Norway, impeachment, also known as the Constitutional Court of the Realm , is a judicial process with the power to convict Members of Parliament, Members of the Council of State and Supreme Court Justices for criminal acts performed in line of duty. Impeachment is based on the Constitution of...
of 1883–1884, composed of Lagting members and Supreme Court Justices
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...
, but he was weeded out as the counsel for the defence
Defense (legal)
In civil proceedings and criminal prosecutions under the common law, a defendant may raise a defense in an attempt to avoid criminal or civil liability...
took care to decline the candidatures of some of the more liberal and intellectual Lagting members. The aim was to put pressure on the remaining Lagting members, whom the conservatives called "the non-competent part of the court", but this did not succeed.
As a politician Thomesen was, already from an early age, more radical than party leader and Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Norway
The Prime Minister of Norway is the political leader of Norway and the Head of His Majesty's Government. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Stortinget , to their political party, and ultimately the...
Johan Sverdrup
Johan Sverdrup
Johan Sverdrup was a Norwegian politician from the Liberal Party. He was the first Prime Minister of Norway after the introduction of parliamentarism. Sverdrup was Prime Minister from 1884 to 1889.- Early years :...
. He was a strong proponent of public saving, and advocated liberal rules of suffrage—for male citizens. He also supported separation of church and state
Separation of church and state
The concept of the separation of church and state refers to the distance in the relationship between organized religion and the nation state....
, and opposed the religious influence in his party, proponents of which would later break out to form the more lay
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
-Christian Moderate Liberal Party
Moderate Liberal Party
Moderate Liberal Party was a Norwegian political party that emerged from the conservative branch of the Liberal Party in 1888, consisting mainly of the Low Church...
. Thomesen was also anti-Swedish 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....
. He advocated republicanist
Republicanism
Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, where the head of state is appointed by means other than heredity, often elections. The exact meaning of republicanism varies depending on the cultural and historical context...
rule, citing that the head of the executive branch of government should be vested with constitutional
Constitutionalism
Constitutionalism has a variety of meanings. Most generally, it is "a complex of ideas, attitudes, and patterns of behavior elaborating the principle that the authority of government derives from and is limited by a body of fundamental law"....
responsibility, and be elected for his skills. However, he also advocated the parliamentary system
Parliamentary system
A parliamentary system is a system of government in which the ministers of the executive branch get their democratic legitimacy from the legislature and are accountable to that body, such that the executive and legislative branches are intertwined....
with a weak executive branch compared to the legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
.
He eventually became an outspoken opponent of Prime Minister Johan Sverdrup, perceiving him as not radical enough. In December 1888 he hinted that Sverdrup was indirectly responsible for Ole Richter
Ole Richter
Ole Jørgensen Richter was a Norwegian lawyer, politician, parliamentarian and Prime Minister of the Norwegian Government in Stockholm....
's suicide; as a result Thomesen was admonished through a Royal Resolution. He also antagonized other Liberal parliament members from his same constituency, notably Viggo Ullmann
Viggo Ullmann
Johan Christian Viggo Ullmann was a Norwegian educator and politician of Venstre, the Norwegian social-liberal party....
. Ultimately he was not re-elected for a sixth parliamentary term. He retired as a district stipendiary magistrate in August 1892, and moved to Sandvika
Sandvika
is the administrative centre of the municipality of Bærum in Norway. It was declared a city by the municipal council in Bærum on 4 June 2003.Sandvika is situated approximately west of Oslo. It is the main transportation hub for Western Bærum, and has a combined bus and railway station. Sandvika is...
. He died in eastern Bærum in October 1905.