Fredrik von Otter
Encyclopedia
Fredrik Wilhelm von Otter (11 April 1833 – 9 March 1910) was a Swedish friherre
, naval officer and politician, most notably serving as Prime Minister of Sweden
from 1900 to 1902.
Otter was born on the Fimmersta estate (Töreboda Municipality
) in Västergötland
and belonged to a wealthy and aristocratic family. He entered the Royal Swedish Navy as second lieutenant
at the age of 17, but remained without promotion for a long time. Meanwhile he served in the British Royal Navy
1857–1861, participating in campaigns against pirates at the China Sea
, and took part in one of Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld
's North Pole
expeditions in 1868, as commander of the expedition ship Sofia. He was promoted to commander
and made aide-de-camp
of Crown Prince Oscar, the Duke of Östergötland, in 1872 and remained so after the prince's accession to the throne as Oscar II
in 1873.
In 1874 he was promoted to captain
(kommendör) and appointed minister of the navy in the cabinet, succeeding Major General Baron Abraham Leijonhufvud. He remained in this position until the resignation of the De Geer
cabinet in 1880, after which he was appointed director of the naval shipyard in Karlskrona
. He was made a Commodore
in 1884, a vice admiral
in 1892 and admiral
in 1900. He also represented Blekinge County
in the parliamentary First Chamber 1891–1899, and Karlskrona
in the Second Chamber 1900–1902.
After the resignation of Erik Gustaf Boström
in 1900, von Otter was offered the premiership by the king and formed a cabinet which would sit for two years. As Prime Minister he was responsible for carrying through the remodelling of the military system and the final abolishment of the allotment system
introduced by Charles XI
more than 200 years earlier. In connection with the new military organization, a progressive taxation system was introduced. After the end of that parliamentary session in July 1902, he resigned and was succeeded by his predecessor Boström. He spent his remaining years managing his manor Trantorp outside Karlskrona.
Freiherr
The German titles Freiherr and Freifrau and Freiin are titles of nobility, used preceding a person's given name or, after 1919, before the surname...
, naval officer and politician, most notably serving as Prime Minister of Sweden
Prime Minister of Sweden
The Prime Minister is the head of government in the Kingdom of Sweden. Before the creation of the office of a Prime Minister in 1876, Sweden did not have a head of government separate from its head of state, namely the King, in whom the executive authority was vested...
from 1900 to 1902.
Otter was born on the Fimmersta estate (Töreboda Municipality
Töreboda Municipality
Töreboda Municipality is a municipality in Västra Götaland County in western Sweden. Its seat is located in the town of Töreboda....
) in Västergötland
Västergötland
', English exonym: West Gothland, is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden , situated in the southwest of Sweden. In older English literature one may also encounter the Latinized version Westrogothia....
and belonged to a wealthy and aristocratic family. He entered the Royal Swedish Navy as second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
at the age of 17, but remained without promotion for a long time. Meanwhile he served in the British Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
1857–1861, participating in campaigns against pirates at the China Sea
China Sea
The China Seas consist of the seas of the Western Pacific Ocean, around China:* Bohai Sea* Yellow Sea* East China Sea* South China SeaOther uses*China Seas , a 1935 American adventure film...
, and took part in one of Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld
Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld
Freiherr Nils Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld , also known as A. E. Nordenskioeld was a Finnish baron, geologist, mineralogist and arctic explorer of Finnish-Swedish origin. He was a member of the prominent Finland-Swedish Nordenskiöld family of scientists...
's North Pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
expeditions in 1868, as commander of the expedition ship Sofia. He was promoted to commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
and made aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
of Crown Prince Oscar, the Duke of Östergötland, in 1872 and remained so after the prince's accession to the throne as Oscar II
Oscar II of Sweden
Oscar II , baptised Oscar Fredrik was King of Sweden from 1872 until his death and King of Norway from 1872 until 1905. The third son of King Oscar I of Sweden and Josephine of Leuchtenberg, he was a descendant of Gustav I of Sweden through his mother.-Early life:At his birth in Stockholm, Oscar...
in 1873.
In 1874 he was promoted to captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
(kommendör) and appointed minister of the navy in the cabinet, succeeding Major General Baron Abraham Leijonhufvud. He remained in this position until the resignation of the De Geer
Louis Gerhard De Geer
Baron Louis Gerhard De Geer of Finspång was a Swedish statesman and writer.De Geer was born at Finspång manor. He was a lawyer, and in 1855 became president of the Göta Hovrätt, or lord justice for the appellate court of Götaland. From 7 April 1858 to 3 June 1870 he was Prime Minister of Justice...
cabinet in 1880, after which he was appointed director of the naval shipyard in Karlskrona
Karlskrona
Karlskrona is a locality and the seat of Karlskrona Municipality, Blekinge County, Sweden with 35,212 inhabitants in 2010. It is also the capital of Blekinge County. Karlskrona is known as Sweden's only baroque city and is host to Sweden's only remaining naval base and the headquarters of the...
. He was made a Commodore
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
in 1884, a vice admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
in 1892 and admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
in 1900. He also represented Blekinge County
Blekinge County
Blekinge County is a county or län in the south of Sweden. It borders the Counties of Skåne, Kronoberg, Kalmar and the Baltic Sea. The capital is Karlskrona...
in the parliamentary First Chamber 1891–1899, and Karlskrona
Karlskrona
Karlskrona is a locality and the seat of Karlskrona Municipality, Blekinge County, Sweden with 35,212 inhabitants in 2010. It is also the capital of Blekinge County. Karlskrona is known as Sweden's only baroque city and is host to Sweden's only remaining naval base and the headquarters of the...
in the Second Chamber 1900–1902.
After the resignation of Erik Gustaf Boström
Erik Gustaf Boström
Erik Gustaf Bernhard Boström was a Swedish landowner and politician, who was a member of the Swedish Parliament and Prime Minister of Sweden twice . He was also known as E.G. Boström or E. Gust...
in 1900, von Otter was offered the premiership by the king and formed a cabinet which would sit for two years. As Prime Minister he was responsible for carrying through the remodelling of the military system and the final abolishment of the allotment system
Swedish allotment system
The allotment system was a system used in Sweden for keeping a trained army at all times. This system came into use in around 1640, and was replaced in the early 1900s by the Swedish Armed Forces conscription system...
introduced by Charles XI
Charles XI of Sweden
Charles XI also Carl, was King of Sweden from 1660 until his death, in a period in Swedish history known as the Swedish empire ....
more than 200 years earlier. In connection with the new military organization, a progressive taxation system was introduced. After the end of that parliamentary session in July 1902, he resigned and was succeeded by his predecessor Boström. He spent his remaining years managing his manor Trantorp outside Karlskrona.