Alfred Eriksen
Encyclopedia
Alfred Eriksen was a Norwegian priest, politician, newspaper editor and non-fiction writer.
as the son of watchmaker Henrik Erichsen (1825–1870) and Emilie Kathrine Christoffersen (1825–1902). He was married to vicar's daughter Sigrid Marie Wexelsen (1866–1960) from August 1890.
his secondary education at Kristiania Cathedral School in 1883. He then studied theology, graduating with the cand.theol.
degree in theology in 1888. After working one year as a teacher in Ålesund
he was appointer vicar
in Karlsøy
in 1891, and held this position until 1910, when he became vicar in Vålerengen Church. While being a priest he wrote his doctoral thesis, titled Vilje. En psykologisk afhandling. He was founder and first editor of the newspaper Nordlys
from 1902, and edited Nordlys until 1911. In 1913 he founded the publication Dagens Liv, and edited it, but it soon became defunct. He published a popular book on the history of religion, Religionsbilleder og kulturskildringer, in 1901, and a book on jurisprudence for ordinary people, Lovbok for folket, in 1903.
He also became involved in politics, was elected mayor of Karlsøy
for the Liberal Party in 1898, and re-elected in 1901 and 1904. He was a failed candidate for the 1900 general election
; although his party swept the vote in Karlsøy, this was not enough to win the constituency Tromsø Amt
. In 1903
he was elected to the Parliament of Norway, representing the Norwegian Labour Party
. This was the first time members of the organized labour movement were represented in Parliament. The Labour Party went from 0 to 4 seats after the 1903 election, all representatives of Northern Norway. In addition to Lind Johansen, they were Meyer Foshaug
, John Lind Johansen
and Jørg Berge
; also, Adam Egede-Nissen
was elected on the Liberal Party ballot. He was re-elected to Parliament in 1906 and in 1909 for the constituency Tromsøsundet
. He became known as one of the greatest speakers at the Parliament during this period, and his nickname "Karlsøypresten" became a well-known concept among the general public.
He was awarded the Medal for Outstanding Civic Service for his role as mediator in the 1911 lockout. Eriksen did not want to subordinate himself to the party discipline, and was eventually expelled from the Labour Party in 1912. Contributing to his downfall was his actions in the position as chairman of the society Riksmålsforbundet
from 1911 to 1912. From then he was not politically active, but wrote numerous newspaper articles on cultural topics.
Personal life
He was born as Alfred Riedhl in ChristianiaOslo
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...
as the son of watchmaker Henrik Erichsen (1825–1870) and Emilie Kathrine Christoffersen (1825–1902). He was married to vicar's daughter Sigrid Marie Wexelsen (1866–1960) from August 1890.
Career
Eriksen finishedExamen 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 at Kristiania Cathedral School in 1883. He then studied theology, graduating with the cand.theol.
Cand.theol.
Candidatus theologiæ , Candidata theologiæ , abbreviated cand. theol. is an academic degree with a long tradition, awarded after a six year higher education in theology in Denmark and Norway. In Norway, the title has remained after the "Quality Reform", though it is equivalent to a Master of...
degree in theology in 1888. After working one year as a teacher in Ålesund
Ålesund
is a town and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Sunnmøre, and the center of the Ålesund Region. It is a sea port, and is noted for its unique concentration of Art Nouveau architecture....
he was appointer vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
in Karlsøy
Karlsøy
Karlsøy is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hansnes. Karlsøy is also the name of a village on Karlsøya island in the municipality of Karlsøy. The village of Karlsøy had a population of 70.- General information :Karlsøy was...
in 1891, and held this position until 1910, when he became vicar in Vålerengen Church. While being a priest he wrote his doctoral thesis, titled Vilje. En psykologisk afhandling. He was founder and first editor of the newspaper Nordlys
Nordlys
Nordlys is a Norwegian newspaper published in Tromsø, covering the region of Troms, and the largest newspaper in Northern Norway. Chief editor is Anders Opdahl. Nordlys was founded in 1902 by Alfred Eriksen, who also was its first editor-in-chief. Among the later editors are Ivan Kristoffersen, who...
from 1902, and edited Nordlys until 1911. In 1913 he founded the publication Dagens Liv, and edited it, but it soon became defunct. He published a popular book on the history of religion, Religionsbilleder og kulturskildringer, in 1901, and a book on jurisprudence for ordinary people, Lovbok for folket, in 1903.
He also became involved in politics, was elected mayor of Karlsøy
Karlsøy
Karlsøy is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hansnes. Karlsøy is also the name of a village on Karlsøya island in the municipality of Karlsøy. The village of Karlsøy had a population of 70.- General information :Karlsøy was...
for the Liberal Party in 1898, and re-elected in 1901 and 1904. He was a failed candidate for the 1900 general election
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1900
-Results:...
; although his party swept the vote in Karlsøy, this was not enough to win the constituency Tromsø Amt
Troms
or Romsa is a county in North Norway, bordering Finnmark to the northeast and Nordland in the southwest. To the south is Norrbotten Län in Sweden and further southeast is a shorter border with Lapland Province in Finland. To the west is the Norwegian Sea...
. In 1903
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1903
-Results:...
he was elected to the Parliament of Norway, representing the Norwegian Labour Party
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
. This was the first time members of the organized labour movement were represented in Parliament. The Labour Party went from 0 to 4 seats after the 1903 election, all representatives of Northern Norway. In addition to Lind Johansen, they were Meyer Foshaug
Meyer Foshaug
Meyer Nilssen Foshaug was a Norwegian farmer and politician for the Labour and Social Democratic Labour parties. He served ten terms in the Parliament of Norway.-Career:...
, John Lind Johansen
John Lind Johansen
John Lind Johansen was a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party.He was born at Aarstein in Ibbestad. He studies fisheries in France and Belgium, and spent his working career as a fisher and farmer. He was a member of Ibbestad municipal council, and served as deputy mayor, for some time...
and Jørg Berge
Jørg Berge
Jørg Berge was a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party.He was born in Arendal. He worked several years at sea, and studied and worked in Canada, Spain and several cities in France. He converted to Roman Catholicism in Montreal...
; also, Adam Egede-Nissen
Adam Egede-Nissen
Adam Egede-Nissen , Norwegian Communist politician. Born in Levanger and he started his political involvement in the Liberal Party of Norway and was elected to the Storting in 1900. In 1905 he broke with the Liberal Party and joined the Norwegian Labour Party and became one of its leaders...
was elected on the Liberal Party ballot. He was re-elected to Parliament in 1906 and in 1909 for the constituency Tromsøsundet
Tromsøysund
Tromsøysund is a former municipality in Troms county in Norway. It is located in the southern and eastern parts of the present-day municipality of Tromsø, including the villages of Tromsdalen and Movik.-History:...
. He became known as one of the greatest speakers at the Parliament during this period, and his nickname "Karlsøypresten" became a well-known concept among the general public.
He was awarded the Medal for Outstanding Civic Service for his role as mediator in the 1911 lockout. Eriksen did not want to subordinate himself to the party discipline, and was eventually expelled from the Labour Party in 1912. Contributing to his downfall was his actions in the position as chairman of the society Riksmålsforbundet
Riksmålsforbundet
Riksmålsforbundet is the main organisation for Riksmål, one of the written standard of the Norwegian language ....
from 1911 to 1912. From then he was not politically active, but wrote numerous newspaper articles on cultural topics.