Sigurd Segelcke Meidell
Encyclopedia
Sigurd Segelcke Meidell was a Norwegian journalist, genealogist and novelist.
He was born in Bergen
as a son of sea captain Hartvig Segelcke Meidell (1834–1902) and Malin Gohde (1847–1895). His father's family hailed from Kvinnherad
, and his mother's family was Swedish
. He was the brother of Fascist politician Birger Meidell. In August 1908 he married Nunne Thorbjørnsen (1885–1949).
Meidell grew up in Hamar
. He finished
his secondary education in 1898, enrolled in law studies and graduated with the cand.jur. degree in 1905. From 1906 to 1908 he was a foreign affairs journalist and theatre critic in the newspaper Morgenbladet
. He also worked as the Kristiania
city correspondent of Bergens Aftenblad
and Trondhjems Adresseavis
. In 1908 he co-founded and edited the sports magazine Sport.
In 1926 he was among the founders of the Norwegian Genealogical Society
, together with Stian Herlofsen Finne-Grønn
and Christopher Morgenstierne Munthe
, among others. This was Norway's first national genealogical society. He was the chairman of the organization from 1940 to 1943, taking over from Halvdan Koht
who went into exile following the German invasion of Norway
on 9 April 1940. On the very same day, his brother was named as Minister of Church and Education in the Vidkun Quisling
government that attempted a coup d'etat
.
Meidell left the chair in 1943. He was also a member of the board of the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History and Landslaget for By- og Bygdehistorie. From 1941 he tried his luck as a novelist, under the pseudonym Arne Vaagen. He published eight novels in all, and the first three were subject to some popularity. In 1956 he published his memoirs, Møte med livet.
Meidell was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Order of St. Olav in 1956. He was also a Knight of the Danish Order of the Dannebrog
and Commander of the Finnish Order of the White Rose
. He died in July 1968 in Oslo.
He was born in Bergen
Bergen
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 son of sea captain Hartvig Segelcke Meidell (1834–1902) and Malin Gohde (1847–1895). His father's family hailed from Kvinnherad
Kvinnherad
Kvinnherad is a municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. The parish of Kvindherred was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . Fjelberg, most of Varaldsøy and parts of Skånevik merged with Kvinnherad on 1 January 1965.The municipality is the 5th in size in Hordaland...
, and his mother's family was Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. He was the brother of Fascist politician Birger Meidell. In August 1908 he married Nunne Thorbjørnsen (1885–1949).
Meidell grew up in Hamar
Hamar
is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Hamar. The municipality of Hamar was separated from Vang as a town and municipality of its own in 1849...
. He finished
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...
his secondary education in 1898, enrolled in law studies and graduated with the cand.jur. degree in 1905. From 1906 to 1908 he was a foreign affairs journalist and theatre critic in the newspaper Morgenbladet
Morgenbladet
Morgenbladet is a Norwegian weekly newspaper. It was founded in 1819 by the book printer Niels Wulfsberg, and was the country's first daily newspaper. For a long time, it was also the country's biggest newspaper. It was closed down by the German Wehrmacht during World War II...
. He also worked as the 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...
city correspondent of Bergens Aftenblad
Bergens Aftenblad
Bergens Aftenblad was a Norwegian daily newspaper, published in Bergen, Norway from 1880 to 1942. It supported the Conservative Party.The paper was started in 1880, and absorbed the long-running Bergens Adressecontoirs Efterretninger in 1889....
and Trondhjems Adresseavis
Adresseavisen
Adresseavisen is a regional newspaper published daily, except Sundays, in Trondheim, Norway. It is an independent, conservative newspaper with a daily circulation of approximately 85,000. It is also informally known as Adressa. The newspaper covers the areas of Trøndelag and Nordmøre.Adresseavisen...
. In 1908 he co-founded and edited the sports magazine Sport.
In 1926 he was among the founders of the Norwegian Genealogical Society
Norwegian Genealogical Society
Norwegian Genealogical Society is a genealogical society in Oslo, Norway.It was founded on 22 October 1926 as the first exclusively Norwegian genealogical society. Among the founders were Stian Herlofsen Finne-Grønn, Christoffer Morgenstierne Munthe and Sigurd Segelcke Meidell...
, together with Stian Herlofsen Finne-Grønn
Stian Herlofsen Finne-Grønn
Stian Herlofsen Finne-Grønn was a Norwegian genealogist.He was born in Risør as the son of engineer Samuel Grønn and Jacobine Finne . In October 1900 he married Margrethe Borchgrevink , a daughter of Sofie Borchgrevink...
and Christopher Morgenstierne Munthe
Christopher Morgenstierne Munthe
Christopher Morgenstierne Munthe was a Norwegian genealogist.He was a son of Colonel and historian Hartvig Andreas Munthe...
, among others. This was Norway's first national genealogical society. He was the chairman of the organization from 1940 to 1943, taking over from Halvdan Koht
Halvdan Koht
Halvdan Koht was a Norwegian historian and politician representing the Labour Party.As a politician he served as the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1935 to 1941. He was never elected as a member of the Parliament of Norway, but was a member of Bærum municipal council in 1917–1919 and...
who went into exile following the German invasion of Norway
Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
on 9 April 1940. On the very same day, his brother was named as Minister of Church and Education in the Vidkun Quisling
Vidkun Quisling
Vidkun Abraham Lauritz Jonssøn Quisling was a Norwegian politician. On 9 April 1940, with the German invasion of Norway in progress, he seized power in a Nazi-backed coup d'etat that garnered him international infamy. From 1942 to 1945 he served as Minister-President, working with the occupying...
government that attempted a coup d'etat
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
.
Meidell left the chair in 1943. He was also a member of the board of the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History and Landslaget for By- og Bygdehistorie. From 1941 he tried his luck as a novelist, under the pseudonym Arne Vaagen. He published eight novels in all, and the first three were subject to some popularity. In 1956 he published his memoirs, Møte med livet.
Meidell was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Order of St. Olav in 1956. He was also a Knight of the Danish Order of the Dannebrog
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
and Commander of the Finnish Order of the White Rose
Order of the White Rose
The Order of the White Rose of Finland is one of three official orders in Finland, along with the Order of the Cross of Liberty, and the Order of the Lion of Finland. The President of Finland is the Grand Master of all three orders. The orders are administered by boards consisting of a chancellor,...
. He died in July 1968 in Oslo.