Robert Themptander
Encyclopedia
Robert Themptander was a politician, public official, Finance Minister, Prime Minister of Sweden
from 1884 to 1888 during the reign of King Oscar II
, and Governor of Stockholm District from 1888 to 1896.
, the son of lieutenant Nils Themptander and Adolphina Laurent. After law studies in Uppsala
and a highly successful career in the civil service he became in 1879 a member of the second chamber where from the start he was near the center of the loyal government, but afterward he approached the agrarian party. He Married in 1874 with Frida Dahlberg, with whom he had three children. In the government of Arvid Posse
in 1880, he became minister without portfolio and, in 1881 Minister of Finance, which he was for three years before he became Prime Minister at the age of 40. Only Louis De Geer had become Prime Minister at a younger age.
Through good contacts in different parliamentary positions he was successful in breaking the deadlock which the defense question got into and put in place the defense decisions of 1885. He was less successful in his striving to protect the free trade system which Louis De Geer and Minister of Finance Gripenstedt imported and which accelerated the modernising of Sweden. As food prices on the world markets sank because of increased imports from all of North America, demand increased for high duties
to protect Swedish interests.
Eventually Themptander was constrained to retire, yet not through defeat in the 1887 election, when his resistance towards the new duty-friendly winds of opinion meant more election debate than before. Candidates for the Riksdag were compelled to answer about which views they had, if they were friends of free trade or friends of duties. This was seen by many as common. Lifelong members of the Riksdag had previously been elected on the basis of their high personal reputation and confidence. The free market supporters won in Stockholm and took home twenty-two parliamentary seats. But it appeared that one member had not paid taxes and therefore the whole list was declared invalid. Lifelong members of the Riksdag who were friendly to free markets were replaced with those in favor of tolls and the second chamber thereby received a protectionist majority.
Themptander attempted to have King Oscar II announce a new election, but the King denied the request. Then Themptander retired. From 1888-1896 he was Governor in the Stockholm District and afterwards director for Trafik AB Grängesberg–Oxelösund.
Robert Themptander died on 30 January 1897 in Stockholm.
Prime Minister of Sweden
The Prime Minister is the head of government in the Kingdom of Sweden. Before the creation of the office of a Prime Minister in 1876, Sweden did not have a head of government separate from its head of state, namely the King, in whom the executive authority was vested...
from 1884 to 1888 during the reign of King Oscar II
Oscar II of Sweden
Oscar II , baptised Oscar Fredrik was King of Sweden from 1872 until his death and King of Norway from 1872 until 1905. The third son of King Oscar I of Sweden and Josephine of Leuchtenberg, he was a descendant of Gustav I of Sweden through his mother.-Early life:At his birth in Stockholm, Oscar...
, and Governor of Stockholm District from 1888 to 1896.
Biography
Robert Themptander was born in StockholmStockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, the son of lieutenant Nils Themptander and Adolphina Laurent. After law studies in Uppsala
Uppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
and a highly successful career in the civil service he became in 1879 a member of the second chamber where from the start he was near the center of the loyal government, but afterward he approached the agrarian party. He Married in 1874 with Frida Dahlberg, with whom he had three children. In the government of Arvid Posse
Arvid Posse
Count Arvid Rutger Fredriksson Posse was the Prime Minister of Sweden from 1880 to 1883.Arvid Posse was born at Rosendal manor in Malmöhus County, as the son of Governor Count Fredrik Posse and Baroness Magdalena Charlotta Bennet. In 1835 he enrolled at Lund University, receiving a law degree in...
in 1880, he became minister without portfolio and, in 1881 Minister of Finance, which he was for three years before he became Prime Minister at the age of 40. Only Louis De Geer had become Prime Minister at a younger age.
Through good contacts in different parliamentary positions he was successful in breaking the deadlock which the defense question got into and put in place the defense decisions of 1885. He was less successful in his striving to protect the free trade system which Louis De Geer and Minister of Finance Gripenstedt imported and which accelerated the modernising of Sweden. As food prices on the world markets sank because of increased imports from all of North America, demand increased for high duties
Duty (economics)
In economics, a duty is a kind of tax, often associated with customs, a payment due to the revenue of a state, levied by force of law. It is a tax on certain items purchased abroad...
to protect Swedish interests.
Eventually Themptander was constrained to retire, yet not through defeat in the 1887 election, when his resistance towards the new duty-friendly winds of opinion meant more election debate than before. Candidates for the Riksdag were compelled to answer about which views they had, if they were friends of free trade or friends of duties. This was seen by many as common. Lifelong members of the Riksdag had previously been elected on the basis of their high personal reputation and confidence. The free market supporters won in Stockholm and took home twenty-two parliamentary seats. But it appeared that one member had not paid taxes and therefore the whole list was declared invalid. Lifelong members of the Riksdag who were friendly to free markets were replaced with those in favor of tolls and the second chamber thereby received a protectionist majority.
Themptander attempted to have King Oscar II announce a new election, but the King denied the request. Then Themptander retired. From 1888-1896 he was Governor in the Stockholm District and afterwards director for Trafik AB Grängesberg–Oxelösund.
Robert Themptander died on 30 January 1897 in Stockholm.