Andreas Frederik Krieger
Encyclopedia
Andreas Frederik Krieger (4 October 1817, Kolbjørnsvik
– 27 September 1893) was a Danish
politician, government minister, professor of law and supreme court judge. He was a member of the National Constitutional Assembly from 1848 to 1849, a member of the Folketing
from 1849 to 1852 representing the National Liberal Party
and a member of the Landsting
from 1863 to 1890 representing first the National Liberal Party and later the conservative party Højre
.
in Norway
as the son of Danish naval officer Johannes Krieger, who was of an ennobled family, and a Norwegian mother, Anna Elisa Finne. Krieger grew up in Copenhagen
and graduated from with a legal degree at the age of 20, specializing in constitutional law. From 1845 to 1855 he was professor of law at the University of Copenhagen
, lecturing primarily in civil law.
could be elected — the outbreak of the First Schleswig War had rendered this impossible and the proposal was renamed from Constitution for the Kingdom of Denmark and Schleswig to Constitution for the Realm of Denmark instead. Krieger was a supporter of the so-called "Eider-Danish" doctrine which would involve "danification" of the Duchy of Schleswig (and neither the Duchy of Holstein nor the Duchy of Lauenburg) and which dominated the national liberal politics on the Schleswig-Holstein Question
.
Krieger was elected to the Folketing in the first elections in 1849 and he remained a member until 1852. He became Minister for Interior Affairs in 1856 in the Cabinet of Andræ and the first Cabinet of Hall, and he passed among other things an act on the construction of an east-west railroad in Jutland
and a reform of the administration of Copenhagen Municipality
.
After the death of her husband in 1860, Krieger became a close friend of actress Johanne Luise Heiberg
, and they were both among the most vocal critics of Frederick VII
's morganatic marriage
with Louise Rasmussen
, and in private letters to Heiberg, but not publicly, Krieger described himself as a republican. Until Frederick VII influenced by Louise Rasmussen in 1859 unseated the cabinet and appointed Carl Edvard Rotwitt
Council President, Krieger had along with Carl Christian Hall
and Carl Andræ been part of the small inner circle of national liberal politicians who effectively ran the country from the weekly dinners at Andræ's home. From 1863 to 1890 he was a member of the Landsting and he was its Speaker for a while in 1866.
He became represented in the government again from 1872 to 1874 in the Cabinet of Holstein-Holsteinborg, as Justice Minister
for a short term in 1872 and as Finance Minister
until 1874. As Finance Minister, he administered Denmark's accession to the Scandinavian Monetary Union
in 1873, replacing the former currency—the rigsdaler
—with the krone
.
On 25 January 1877, a case at the Court of Impeachment
was started against Krieger by the Folketing involving his sale of the ruins of the Frederik's Church
in Copenhagen
and the church square to Carl Frederik Tietgen
while Finance Minister in 1874. The construction of the church had been started in 1749, but was halted in 1770 by Johann Friedrich Struensee
and the partial building had essentially laid untouched since then. Tietgen had purchased the site for 100,000 Rigsdaler—none of which was to be paid in cash—on the conditions that he would built a church in a similar style on the site and donate it to the state when complete, while in turn he acquired the rights to subdivide neighbouring plots for development. Krieger was acquitted.
Arendal
is a town and municipality in the county of Aust-Agder, Norway. Arendal belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet.The town of Arendal is the administrative center the municipality and also of Aust-Agder county...
– 27 September 1893) was a Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
politician, government minister, professor of law and supreme court judge. He was a member of the National Constitutional Assembly from 1848 to 1849, a member of the Folketing
Folketing
The Folketing , is the national parliament of Denmark. The name literally means "People's thing"—that is, the people's governing assembly. It is located in Christiansborg Palace, on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen....
from 1849 to 1852 representing the National Liberal Party
National Liberal Party (Denmark)
The National Liberal Party , was a Danish political party or political movement from the 1830s until about 1880.Often considered "the first Danish political party" the National Liberals were gradually founded as the opposition against the Danish absolute monarchy...
and a member of the Landsting
Landsting (Denmark)
The Landsting was a house of the Rigsdag in Denmark from 1849 until 1953, when the bicameral system was abolished. The house had powers equal to the Folketing, which made the two houses of parliament hard to distinguish....
from 1863 to 1890 representing first the National Liberal Party and later the conservative party Højre
Conservative People's Party (Denmark)
The Conservative People's Party , also known as Conservatives is a Danish political party.-History:The party was founded 1915 based mostly on its predecessor, Højre , but also on the Free Conservatives and a moderate faction of Venstre , the liberals.The party has participated in several coalition...
.
Background and legal career
Andreas Frederik Krieger was born in 1817 in KolbjørnsvikArendal
is a town and municipality in the county of Aust-Agder, Norway. Arendal belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet.The town of Arendal is the administrative center the municipality and also of Aust-Agder county...
in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
as the son of Danish naval officer Johannes Krieger, who was of an ennobled family, and a Norwegian mother, Anna Elisa Finne. Krieger grew up in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
and graduated from with a legal degree at the age of 20, specializing in constitutional law. From 1845 to 1855 he was professor of law at the University of Copenhagen
University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is the oldest and largest university and research institution in Denmark. Founded in 1479, it has more than 37,000 students, the majority of whom are female , and more than 7,000 employees. The university has several campuses located in and around Copenhagen, with the...
, lecturing primarily in civil law.
Political career
Krieger was elected to the constitutional assembly in 1848 representing the National Liberal Party and advocated delaying processing the proposal for the constitution until representatives for SchleswigSchleswig
Schleswig or South Jutland is a region covering the area about 60 km north and 70 km south of the border between Germany and Denmark; the territory has been divided between the two countries since 1920, with Northern Schleswig in Denmark and Southern Schleswig in Germany...
could be elected — the outbreak of the First Schleswig War had rendered this impossible and the proposal was renamed from Constitution for the Kingdom of Denmark and Schleswig to Constitution for the Realm of Denmark instead. Krieger was a supporter of the so-called "Eider-Danish" doctrine which would involve "danification" of the Duchy of Schleswig (and neither the Duchy of Holstein nor the Duchy of Lauenburg) and which dominated the national liberal politics on the Schleswig-Holstein Question
Schleswig-Holstein Question
The Schleswig-Holstein Question was a complex of diplomatic and other issues arising in the 19th century from the relations of two duchies, Schleswig and Holstein , to the Danish crown and to the German Confederation....
.
Krieger was elected to the Folketing in the first elections in 1849 and he remained a member until 1852. He became Minister for Interior Affairs in 1856 in the Cabinet of Andræ and the first Cabinet of Hall, and he passed among other things an act on the construction of an east-west railroad in Jutland
Jutland
Jutland , historically also called Cimbria, is the name of the peninsula that juts out in Northern Europe toward the rest of Scandinavia, forming the mainland part of Denmark. It has the North Sea to its west, Kattegat and Skagerrak to its north, the Baltic Sea to its east, and the Danish–German...
and a reform of the administration of Copenhagen Municipality
Copenhagen municipality
Copenhagen Municipality is the largest of the municipalities making up the city of Copenhagen. It lies at the center of Copenhagen and contains the old historic city....
.
Johanne Luise Heiberg
Johanne Luise Heiberg was one of the greatest Danish actresses of the 19th century. She is most famous for her work at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, where she achieved great success.-Early life:...
, and they were both among the most vocal critics of Frederick VII
Frederick VII of Denmark
Frederick VII was a King of Denmark. He reigned from 1848 until his death. He was the last Danish monarch of the older Royal branch of the House of Oldenburg and also the last king of Denmark to rule as an absolute monarch...
's morganatic marriage
Morganatic marriage
In the context of European royalty, a morganatic marriage is a marriage between people of unequal social rank, which prevents the passage of the husband's titles and privileges to the wife and any children born of the marriage...
with Louise Rasmussen
Louise Rasmussen
Louise Christine Rasmussen, also known as Countess Danner , was a Danish Ballet dancer and stage actor. She was the mistress and later the morganatic spouse of King Frederick VII of Denmark...
, and in private letters to Heiberg, but not publicly, Krieger described himself as a republican. Until Frederick VII influenced by Louise Rasmussen in 1859 unseated the cabinet and appointed Carl Edvard Rotwitt
Carl Edvard Rotwitt
Carl Edvard Rotwitt was a Danish politician. He served as the Prime Minister of Denmark 1859-1860 as leader of the Cabinet of Rotwitt. He died while in office, only 47 years old....
Council President, Krieger had along with Carl Christian Hall
Carl Christian Hall
Carl Christian Hall , Danish statesman, son of the highly respected artisan and train-band colonel Marls Hall, was born at Christianshavn....
and Carl Andræ been part of the small inner circle of national liberal politicians who effectively ran the country from the weekly dinners at Andræ's home. From 1863 to 1890 he was a member of the Landsting and he was its Speaker for a while in 1866.
He became represented in the government again from 1872 to 1874 in the Cabinet of Holstein-Holsteinborg, as Justice Minister
Justice Minister of Denmark
The Danish Minister for Justice is the head of the Ministry of Justice and a cabinet member.Under the current government, the post is held by Morten Bødskov.As the head of the department, the minister is responsible for:* The General judicial system including...
for a short term in 1872 and as Finance Minister
Finance Minister of Denmark
The Finance Minister of Denmark is the head of the Ministry of Finance of Denmark, and a member of the Cabinet. As head of the ministry, the minister has responsibility for the ministry's tasks of administrering the state finances via the fiscal policy, and making economic predictions and...
until 1874. As Finance Minister, he administered Denmark's accession to the Scandinavian Monetary Union
Scandinavian Monetary Union
The Scandinavian Monetary Union was a monetary union formed by Sweden and Denmark on May 5, 1873, by fixing their currencies against gold at par to each other...
in 1873, replacing the former currency—the rigsdaler
Danish rigsdaler
The rigsdaler was the name of several currencies used in Denmark until 1873. The similarly named Reichsthaler, riksdaler and rijksdaalder were used in Germany and Austria-Hungary, Sweden and the Netherlands, respectively....
—with the krone
Danish krone
The krone is the official currency of the Kingdom of Denmark consisting of Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. It is subdivided into 100 øre...
.
On 25 January 1877, a case at the Court of Impeachment
Courts of Denmark
The Danish Supreme Court is the highest civil and criminal court responsible for the administration of justice in Denmark. The Kingdom of Denmark, consisting of Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, does not have a single unified judicial system – Denmark has one system, Greenland another, and...
was started against Krieger by the Folketing involving his sale of the ruins of the Frederik's Church
Frederik's Church
Frederick's Church , popularly known as The Marble Church is a church in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is located just north of Amalienborg Palace....
in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
and the church square to Carl Frederik Tietgen
Carl Frederik Tietgen
Carl Frederik Tietgen was a Danish financier and industrialist. The founder of numerous prominent Danish companies, many of which are still in operation today, he played an important role in the industrialisation of Denmark...
while Finance Minister in 1874. The construction of the church had been started in 1749, but was halted in 1770 by Johann Friedrich Struensee
Johann Friedrich Struensee
Count Johann Friedrich Struensee was a German doctor. He became royal physician to the mentally ill King Christian VII of Denmark and a minister in the Danish government. He rose in power to a position of “de facto” regent of the country, where he tried to carry out widespread reforms...
and the partial building had essentially laid untouched since then. Tietgen had purchased the site for 100,000 Rigsdaler—none of which was to be paid in cash—on the conditions that he would built a church in a similar style on the site and donate it to the state when complete, while in turn he acquired the rights to subdivide neighbouring plots for development. Krieger was acquitted.