Wolfgang Wenzel von Haffner

Wolfgang Wenzel von Haffner
Minister of the Navy and Postal Affairs
In office 1861–1863
In office 1864–1867
In office 1868–1869
Member of the Council of State Division in Stockholm
In office October 1863 – 1864
In office 1867–1868
Member of interim governments in Stockholm
In office May 1875 – May 1875
In office July 1875 – July 1875
In office 1881–1881
Prime Minister in Stockholm (acting)
In office 21 March 1884 – 3 April 1884
Personal details
Born	23 November 1806 Kristiania, Norway
Died	11 November 1892 (aged 85) Kristiania, Norway
Nationality	Norwegian
Political party	Independent
Spouse(s)	Louise Claudia le Normand Malthe
Occupation	Naval officer

Wolfgang Wenzel von Haffner (23 November 1806 – 11 November 1892) was a Norwegian naval officer and politician.

Early life and career

He was born in Christiania in 1806, as the son of Lieutenant Colonel Johan Friedrich Wilhelm Haffner and Sara Vilhelmine, née Hagerup. In 1834 in Ullensaker he married Louise Claudia le Normand Malthe (1806, Solum – 1872, Kristiania).^[1]

His career began in the navy. He became Sub-Lieutenant (second lieutenant or fenrik) in 1824, and Lieutenant in 1830. From 1839 to 1848 he had an interlude as a private tutor in Norwegian language and mathematics to the three eldest sons of Crown Prince Oscar of Sweden, namely Charles, Gustaf and Oscar. After this period, Haffner returned to the navy in 1848. He was promoted to Commodore in 1860.^[1]

Political career

In 1861 he entered politics. He was appointed chief of the Ministry of the Navy and Postal Affairs in December 1861,^[1] being the fourth person to hold that position that year.^[2] In October 1863 he left to serve as a member of the Council of State Division in Stockholm. The next year he returned as Minister of the Navy and Postal Affairs, only to return to Stockholm in 1867. He returned one final time to the Ministry of the Navy and Postal Affairs to head it from June 1868 to March 1869.^[3] During this final period, the Parliament of Norway became severely disappointed with monetary amounts granted to enlargement of Karljohansvern.^[1] Johan Sverdrup set forward a motion of no confidence, and this motion passed in what has been called a "foreplay of parliamentarism".^[4]

In May 1875, July 1875 and 1881 King Oscar II (whom Haffner had formerly tutored) appointed Haffner an acting member of the interim governments in Stockholm. Such interim governments were established when the King travelled abroad.^[5][6][7] On 21 March 1884, when Selmer's Cabinet fell due to the impeachment trial, Haffner was again named a member of the Council of State Division in Stockholm.^[3] He was also appointed acting Prime Minister in Stockholm, as the previous Prime Minister in Stockholm, Otto Richard Kierulf, went down in the Selmer impeachment case. Over Haffner, two people served as acting Prime Ministers in Kristiania: Ole Bachke from 11 to 29 March^[8] and Niels Mathias Rye from 29 March to 3 April 1884.^[9] On 3 April a new cabinet, Schweigaard's Cabinet, was finally constituted, and Haffner was relieved of both his positions.^[1] The Schweigaard's Cabinet lasted only two months, being replaced by the Liberal Sverdrup's Cabinet on 26 June.

Haffner died in his birth city in 1892. He was buried at Vår Frelsers gravlund.^[1]

References

1. "Wolfgang Haffner". Government.no. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
2. "Norwegian Ministry of the Navy and Postal Affairs. Councillor of State". Government.no. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
3. "Wolfgang Wensel von Haffner" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Social Science Data Services (NSD). Retrieved 19 December 2009.
4. Nordby, Trond (2004). I politikkens sentrum. Variasjoner i Stortingets makt 1814–2004 (in Norwegian) (2nd ed.). Oslo: Universitetsforlaget. pp. 72–73. ISBN 82-15-00651-5.
5. "Norwegian members of the Interim Government 26 May - 5 June 1875 during King Oscar II's travel in Germany". Government.no. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
6. "Norwegian members of the Interim Government 6–21 July 1875 during King Oscar II's travel in Russia". Government.no. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
7. "Norwegian members of the Interim Government 16–26 September 1881 During King Oscar II's and Crown Prince Gustaf's travel in Russia". Government.no. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
8. "Ole Andreas Bachke". Government.no. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
9. "Niels Mathias Rye". Government.no. Retrieved 19 December 2009.