Christian Homann Schweigaard

Christian Schweigaard MP
3rd Prime Minister of Norway in Christiania
In office April 1884 – June 1884
Monarch	Oscar II
Preceded by	Christian August Selmer
Succeeded by	Johan Sverdrup
Personal details
Born	Christian Homann Schweigaard 14 October 1838 Christiania
Died	24 March 1899 (aged 60) Christiania
Nationality	Norwegian
Political party	Conservative Party
Occupation	Politician
Profession	clerk
Religion	Church of Norway

Christian Homann Schweigaard (14 October 1838 – 24 March 1899 ) was a Norwegian Prime Minister. He was the Prime Minister of Norway for three months in 1884, a period after the impeachment of Prime Minister 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]

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 July 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.