Paul Vinsnes was a Norwegian priest and politician.

He was born in Drammen

Drammen

Drammen is a city in Buskerud County, Norway. The port and river city of Drammen is centrally located in the eastern and most populated part of Norway.-Location:...

 as the son of Johan Fredrik Winsnes and his wife Barbara Holm. He graduated from 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...

 as cand.theol.

Cand.theol.

Candidatus theologiæ , Candidata theologiæ , abbreviated cand. theol. is an academic degree with a long tradition, awarded after a six year higher education in theology in Denmark and Norway. In Norway, the title has remained after the "Quality Reform", though it is equivalent to a Master of...

 in 1814. He first worked two years as a teacher in Drammen, then in 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...

 before he became chaplain in Vang

Vang, Hedmark

Vang is a former municipality in Hedmark county, Norway.Vang was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . The city of Hamar was separated from Vang in 1849. Furnes was separated from Vang in 1891...

 in 1819. He was then appointed as vicar in Trysil

Trysil

Trysil is a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Østerdalen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Innbygda...

 in 1820, Hurdal

Hurdal

Hurdal is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Romerike. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hurdal....

en in 1822, Aurdal

Aurdal

Aurdal is a village in Nord-Aurdal municipality, Norway. It is located between Bagn and Fagernes along the European route E16. Its population is 718. In recent years, there has been a cultural revolution in Aurdal..-References:...

 in 1827 and Brunlaugnes

Brunlanes

Brunlanes is a parish and former municipality within Larvik municipality in Vestfold county, Norway.-History:The parish of Brunlagnæs was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . Small parts of Brunlanes were moved to Larvik in 1875 and to the neighboring municipality Stavern in 1883,...

 in 1830. He was promoted to dean

Dean (religion)

A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...

 in 1835. He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1839, 1842 and 1844, representing the constituency of Jarlsberg og Laurviks Amt

Vestfold

is a county in Norway, bordering Buskerud and Telemark. The county administration is in Tønsberg.Vestfold is located west of the Oslofjord, as the name indicates. It includes many smaller, but well-known towns in Norway, such as Larvik, Sandefjord, Tønsberg and Horten. The river Numedalslågen runs...

. He later returned as vicar of Vang. He retired in 1870.

Paul Vinsnes, who wrote his name Winsnes until the late 1830s, married Hanna Olava Strøm

Hanna Winsnes

Hanna Winsnes was a Norwegian poet, novelist and non-fiction writer. She was born in Drammen, and was married to priest and politician Paul Winsnes. She was the first female novelist in Norway, her first was Grevens Datter from 1841, published under the pseudonym "Hugo Schwarz"...

, a niece of professor Hans Strøm. They had several children. Their granddaughter Barbra Ring

Barbra Ring

Barbra Ring was a Norwegian novelist, short story writer, children's writer, biographer, literary critic and theatre critic. She made her literary début in 1904 with the girl's novel Babbens Dagbog. Her children's books about "Peik" and other characters achieved great popularity. Her first novel...

was a notable author.