Christian Homann Schweigaard

Christian Homann Schweigaard (14 October 1838 24 March 1899) was a Norwegian politician of the Conservative Party. He served as Prime Minister for two months in 1884, a period after the impeachment of his predecessor Christian August Selmer called Schweigaard's Ministerium. Schweigaard held a number of key positions, including Chairman of the Conservative Party from 1889–1891 and 1893–1896, as well as Parliamentary Leader from 1889-1891 and 1894–1895. He was Emil Stang's indispensable partner, leading the Conservative Party's policy and organizational development in the 1880s and 1890s.[1]

Christian Schweigaard

Christian Schweigaard
Prime Minister of Norway in Christiania
In office
3 April 1884  26 June 1884
MonarchOscar II
Preceded byChristian A. Selmer
Succeeded byJohan Sverdrup
Minister of Finance
In office
15 September 1883  3 April 1884
Prime MinisterChristian A. Selmer
Preceded byHenrik L. Helliesen
Succeeded byHerman Reimers
Minister of Justice
In office
26 March 1884  3 April 1884
Prime MinisterChristian A. Selmer
Preceded byChristian Jensen
Succeeded byLudvig Aubert
In office
26 September 1881  15 November 1881
Prime MinisterChristian A. Selmer
Preceded byChristian Jensen
Succeeded byOle A. Bachke
Member of the Norwegian Parliament
In office
1 January 1886  31 December 1897
ConstituencyHolmestrand
Leader of the Conservative Party
In office
1893–1896
Preceded byEmil Stang
Succeeded byEmil Stang
In office
1889–1891
Preceded byEmil Stang
Succeeded byEmil Stang
Personal details
Born
Christian Homann Schweigaard

(1838-10-14)14 October 1838
Christiania, United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway
Died24 March 1899(1899-03-24) (aged 60)
Christiania, United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway
NationalityNorwegian
Political partyConservative
Spouse(s)
Caroline Magnine Homann
(m. 1867)
ChildrenAnton Martin Schweigaard jr.
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionClerk

Background

Schweigaard was born in Christiania (now Oslo, Norway). He was the son of Anton Martin Schweigaard and Caroline Magnine Homan. He took his final exams in 1855 and then studied law. He studied law for a year in London and Paris becoming a lawyer in 1863.[2]

Career

In 1864, he appeared as a lawyer before the Supreme Court of Norway. He served as a Member of Norwegian Parliament from 1886 to 1897. Schweigaard was a member of the Royal Commission on the enlargement of Christiania in 1873 and a Member of the Parliamentary Tax Commission in 1877. Schweigaard served as Minister of the Audit from 1880 until 1882, as Minister of Justice from September to October 1881. He also served as a member of the Council of State Division in Stockholm from September 1882 to August 1883. He was the Finance Minister from September 1883 to April 1884.[3]

After Selmer's impeachment, Emil Stang was commissioned to form a new government, but the Conservative Party's parliamentary group could not spare Stang's parliamentary talent, and it was therefore Schweigaard's task to lead the April Ministry, which came to be called Schweigaard's Ministerium. The government, in which Schweigaard served as Prime Minister and as head of the Audit Department, took office on 3 April 1884. Threats of a new impeachment, a divided Conservative Party, a conflict of Swedish public opinion, and an uncertain King Oscar II eventually led to Schweigaard's resignation on 31 May, which was granted on 26 June 1884.[4]

Schweigaard was elected as the Member of Parliament from Holmestrand 1886–1897. He was Odelsting presidential and parliamentary leader from 1889-1891 and 1894–1895. Schweigaard was elected to the Christiania City Council 1873–1880 and 1885–1894 and was Mayor of Christiania from 1879–1880 and 1885–1888. He was the Chairman of the Conservative Party from 1889–1891 and 1893–1896.

Personal life

Schweigaard was married in 1867 to Thea Meyer (1846-1922). He was appointed Knight of the 1st Class Order of St. Olav in 1880 and commander of the 1st class 1890, he was commander of the Swedish Nordstjärneorden. Schweigaard died during 1899 and was buried at Vår Frelsers gravlund in Oslo.

References

  1. "Schweigaard, Christian Homann". Salmonsens konversationsleksikon. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  2. Magnus A. Mardal. "Christian Homann Schweigaard". Store norske leksikon. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  3. Harald Kjølås. "Christian Homann Schweigaard". Allkunne AS. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  4. Paul Thyness. "Christian Schweigaard, Jurist, Politiker". Norsk biografisk leksikon. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
Political offices
Preceded by
Christian August Selmer
Prime Minister of Norway
1884
Succeeded by
Johan Sverdrup
Preceded by
Anders Sandøe Ørsted Bull
Mayor of Christiania (Oslo)
18791880
Succeeded by
Anton Blumenthal Petersen
Preceded by
Anton Blumenthal Petersen
Mayor of Christiania (Oslo)
18851889
Succeeded by
Peter Birch-Reichenwald
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