Ditlev Gothard Monrad
Encyclopedia
Ditlev Gothard Monrad was a Danish
politician
and bishop
of Lolland
-Falster
.
Monrad was one of the pioneers of the making of a constitutional Denmark after 1848. As Council President 1863-1864 he was the Danish state leader during the disastrous Second War of Schleswig
against the German Confederation
, led by Otto von Bismarck
, which resulted in the Peace of Vienna
.
After this war a depressed and disillusioned Monrad emigrated to New Zealand
. After sending his sons to Nelson and other districts of New Zealand to scout for land, he chose to settle in Palmerston North
in the North Island of New Zealand. He bought 482 acres (2 km²) of land at Karere Block. He lived first in a small hut, then later he erected a timber house and started clearing bushland. He and his family farmed cows and sheep. Monrad helped the New Zealand Company
to find suitable settlers from Scandinavia
and he helped many Danish immigrants to find land to settle on, most notably in the area of Dannevirke
.
His work was disturbed by Māori rioters, who were Hauhau
s under chief Titokowaru
. Monrad buried his belongings and went with the family to Wellington
and then went back to Denmark in 1869. His sons Viggo and Johannes later returned to Karere to become farmers.
Before leaving New Zealand he presented a precious collection of sketches and etchings by old European masters, e.g. Rembrandt, Rubens
, Dürer
and van Dyck, to the New Zealand Government. They are now part of the collection at the national museum of New Zealand - Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
and are occasionally on display there.
Monrad Intermediate is a Palmerston North
intermediate school named after Ditlev Gothard Monrad.
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Lolland
Lolland
Lolland is the fourth largest island of Denmark, with an area of 1,243 square kilometers . Located in the Baltic sea, it is part of Region Sjælland...
-Falster
Falster
Falster is an island in south-eastern Denmark with an area of 514 km² and 43,398 inhabitants as of 1 January 2010. Located in the Baltic sea, it is part of Region Sjælland and is administered by Guldborgsund Municipality...
.
Monrad was one of the pioneers of the making of a constitutional Denmark after 1848. As Council President 1863-1864 he was the Danish state leader during the disastrous Second War of Schleswig
Second War of Schleswig
The Second Schleswig War was the second military conflict as a result of the Schleswig-Holstein Question. It began on 1 February 1864, when Prussian forces crossed the border into Schleswig.Denmark fought Prussia and Austria...
against the German Confederation
German Confederation
The German Confederation was the loose association of Central European states created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to coordinate the economies of separate German-speaking countries. It acted as a buffer between the powerful states of Austria and Prussia...
, led by Otto von Bismarck
Otto von Bismarck
Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg , simply known as Otto von Bismarck, was a Prussian-German statesman whose actions unified Germany, made it a major player in world affairs, and created a balance of power that kept Europe at peace after 1871.As Minister President of...
, which resulted in the Peace of Vienna
Treaty of Vienna (1864)
The Treaty of Vienna was a peace treaty signed on October 30, 1864 in Vienna between the Austrian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Kingdom of Denmark. The treaty ended the Second War of Schleswig. Based on the terms of the treaty, Prussia would administer Schleswig and Austria would...
.
After this war a depressed and disillusioned Monrad emigrated to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. After sending his sons to Nelson and other districts of New Zealand to scout for land, he chose to settle in Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
in the North Island of New Zealand. He bought 482 acres (2 km²) of land at Karere Block. He lived first in a small hut, then later he erected a timber house and started clearing bushland. He and his family farmed cows and sheep. Monrad helped the New Zealand Company
New Zealand Company
The New Zealand Company originated in London in 1837 as the New Zealand Association with the aim of promoting the "systematic" colonisation of New Zealand. The association, and later the company, intended to follow the colonising principles of Edward Gibbon Wakefield, who envisaged the creation of...
to find suitable settlers from Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
and he helped many Danish immigrants to find land to settle on, most notably in the area of Dannevirke
Dannevirke
Dannevirke , is a rural service town in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region of the North Island, New Zealand. It is the major town of the administrative Tararua District, the easternmost of the districts in which the Regional Council has responsibilities...
.
His work was disturbed by Māori rioters, who were Hauhau
Hauhau
Hauhau is a Māori term that was applied to a branch of the religious movement Pai Marire, founded by Te Ua Haumēne of the Taranaki tribe in New Zealand in the 1860s. The movement inculcated that Māori would regain land that they had lost to Europeans during the colonisation process of New...
s under chief Titokowaru
Titokowaru
Riwha Titokowaru became a Māori leader in the Taranaki region and one of the most successful opponents of British colonisation anywhere....
. Monrad buried his belongings and went with the family to Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
and then went back to Denmark in 1869. His sons Viggo and Johannes later returned to Karere to become farmers.
Before leaving New Zealand he presented a precious collection of sketches and etchings by old European masters, e.g. Rembrandt, Rubens
Rubens
Rubens is often used to refer to Peter Paul Rubens , the Flemish artist.Rubens may also refer to:- People :Family name* Paul Rubens Rubens is often used to refer to Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640), the Flemish artist.Rubens may also refer to:- People :Family name* Paul Rubens (composer) Rubens is...
, Dürer
Albrecht Dürer
Albrecht Dürer was a German painter, printmaker, engraver, mathematician, and theorist from Nuremberg. His prints established his reputation across Europe when he was still in his twenties, and he has been conventionally regarded as the greatest artist of the Northern Renaissance ever since...
and van Dyck, to the New Zealand Government. They are now part of the collection at the national museum of New Zealand - Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is the national museum and art gallery of New Zealand, located in Wellington. It is branded and commonly known as Te Papa and Our Place; "Te Papa Tongarewa" is broadly translatable as "the place of treasures of this land".The museum's principles...
and are occasionally on display there.
Monrad Intermediate is a Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
intermediate school named after Ditlev Gothard Monrad.
Literature
- Johan Schioldann-Nielsen, The life of D.G. Monrad (1811-1887) : manic-depressive disorder and political leadership, Odense University Press, 1988. ISBN 87-7492-668-3.
- G.C. Petersen, D.G. Monrad : Scholar, statesman, priest and New Zealand pioneer and his New Zealand descendants, Kerslake, Billens & Humphrey. 1965.
External links
- 50 Ministers of Education - From the Danish Ministry of Education.
- The Monrad Collection at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
- A biography
- Biography in 1966 Encyclopaedia of New Zealand