Georg Prahl Harbitz
Encyclopedia
Georg Prahl Harbitz was a Norwegian
priest
and politician.
He was born in Haus
to innkeeper Nils Harbitz and his wife Elisabet Christine Ibsen. His father died when Georg was eight years old, and he was eventually sent to the wealthy family Prahl in Bergen
for upbringing. Here, he was inspired to undertake academic studies. He graduated as cand.theol.
in 1825, and was assigned, by the Church of Norway
, the post as vicar
(sogneprest) in Askevold
in Nordre Bergenhus Amt
.
He became involved in politics, and when local government was introduced in Norway, Harbitz served as the first mayor of Askevold municipality. He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1836 and 1839, representing the constituency of Nordre Bergenhus Amt. From the start he was known as peasant-friendly, a political current which began making its mark in Parliament from 1830. He was conservative in Constitutional matters.
He left Askevold in 1839, his wife having died the same year. He was assigned the position of vicar in Slidre
, in Christians Amt
. While stationed here, he was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1842 and 1845. In 1847 he applied for the position as garrison priest in Christiania
; however, he discovered that he was not looked kindly upon there, and returned to Christians Amt. In the meantime, Slidre had been split into Øystre
and Vestre Slidre
; Harbitz became vicar of Vestre Slidre. He was elected to Parliament two more times, in 1848 and 1851. During the 1848 term he was President of the Storting, together with Halvor Olaus Christensen
, Hans Riddervold
and Carl Valentin Falsen.
He then decided to leave Vestre Slidre for financial reasons. Reportedly, the wage was low and often delayed. Harbitz applied for the vicarship in Nøtterø
, and began this tenure in 1852. Representing the constituency of Jarlsberg og Laurvigs Amt, he was elected to Parliament in 1854, 1857, 1859, 1862, 1865 and 1868. He continued to serve as President of the Storting for each of these terms. In 1864 he was the sole holder of this position, and held the principal speeches commemorating the fiftieth anniversaries of the Constitution of Norway
(on 17 May) and the Union between Sweden and Norway
(on 4 November).
Having chosen to not stand for parliamentary re-election in 1870, he sought retirement from his vicarship in December 1878, and finally left the position when a replacement was found in April 1879. He was granted a 6,000 kr
yearly pension. His successor was Johan Nordahl Brun, not to be confused with the poet of the same name
. Georg Prahl Harbitz moved to Abbediengen in Vestre Aker
, where his son resided. He died in 1889, and was buried in Askvold. He had been issued the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav in 1864, as well as the Grand Cross of the Swedish
Order of the Polar Star
.
Georg Prahl Harbitz was married to Maren Mariken Hof from Aker
. The couple had four daughters and four sons, the oldest was born in 1827 and the youngest was born just before Maren died in 1839. Georg Prahl Harbitz did not remarry. Their oldest son Johannes Winding Harbitz
became a parliament member and government minister. Another son Georg Prahl Harbitz, Jr. became a vicar as well, and married the sister of politician Walter Scott Dahl
. Georg Prahl Harbitz had struggled with health problems, so did several of his children.
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...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and politician.
He was born in Haus
Haus, Norway
Haus is a village and a former municipality in Hordaland county, Norway.The village is located at the south-western costline of the Osterøy island, at the Sørfjorden fiord....
to innkeeper Nils Harbitz and his wife Elisabet Christine Ibsen. His father died when Georg was eight years old, and he was eventually sent to the wealthy family Prahl in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
for upbringing. Here, he was inspired to undertake academic studies. He graduated as 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...
in 1825, and was assigned, by the Church of Norway
Church of Norway
The Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
, the post as 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...
(sogneprest) in Askevold
Askvoll
is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sunnfjord. The administrative centre is the village of Askvoll....
in Nordre Bergenhus Amt
Sogn og Fjordane
is a county in Norway, bordering Møre og Romsdal, Oppland, Buskerud, and Hordaland. The county administration is in the town of Hermansverk in Leikanger municipality while the largest town is Førde....
.
He became involved in politics, and when local government was introduced in Norway, Harbitz served as the first mayor of Askevold municipality. He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1836 and 1839, representing the constituency of Nordre Bergenhus Amt. From the start he was known as peasant-friendly, a political current which began making its mark in Parliament from 1830. He was conservative in Constitutional matters.
He left Askevold in 1839, his wife having died the same year. He was assigned the position of vicar in Slidre
Slidre
Slidre is the administrative centre of Vestre Slidre municipality, Norway. It is located by the Slidrefjord. Its population is 293.Slidre was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . It was divided into Vestre Slidre and Øystre Slidre in 1849....
, in Christians Amt
Oppland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sør-Trøndelag, Møre og Romsdal, Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Akershus, Oslo and Hedmark. The county administration is in Lillehammer. Oppland is, together with Hedmark, one of the only two landlocked counties of Norway....
. While stationed here, he was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1842 and 1845. In 1847 he applied for the position as garrison priest in Christiania
Oslo
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...
; however, he discovered that he was not looked kindly upon there, and returned to Christians Amt. In the meantime, Slidre had been split into Øystre
Øystre Slidre
Øystre Slidre is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Valdres. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of...
and Vestre Slidre
Vestre Slidre
Vestre Slidre is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Valdres. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Slidre...
; Harbitz became vicar of Vestre Slidre. He was elected to Parliament two more times, in 1848 and 1851. During the 1848 term he was President of the Storting, together with Halvor Olaus Christensen
Halvor Olaus Christensen
Halvor Olaus Christensen was a Norwegian politician.He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1833, 1836, 1839, 1842, 1845, 1848, 1854, 1862, 1865, 1868 and 1871. He represented the constituency of Stavanger, which was renamed Stavanger og Haugesund on the last two occasions...
, Hans Riddervold
Hans Riddervold
Hans Riddervold was a Norwegian priest and politician.-Personal life:He was born at Teien in Åsgårdstrand as a son of shipmaster Adolf Kvernheim Riddervold and Bredine Bolette Nielsen . He was the father of Julius Riddervold, who in turn was a grandfather of Hans Julius Riddervold...
and Carl Valentin Falsen.
He then decided to leave Vestre Slidre for financial reasons. Reportedly, the wage was low and often delayed. Harbitz applied for the vicarship in Nøtterø
Nøtterøy
Nøtterøy is a municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Borgheim.The parish of Nøtterø was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
, and began this tenure in 1852. Representing the constituency of Jarlsberg og Laurvigs Amt, he was elected to Parliament in 1854, 1857, 1859, 1862, 1865 and 1868. He continued to serve as President of the Storting for each of these terms. In 1864 he was the sole holder of this position, and held the principal speeches commemorating the fiftieth anniversaries of the Constitution of Norway
Constitution of Norway
The Constitution of Norway was first adopted on May 16, 1814 by the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll , then signed and dated May 17...
(on 17 May) and the Union between Sweden and Norway
Union between Sweden and Norway
The Union between Sweden and Norway , officially the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway, consisted of present-day Sweden and Norway between 1814 and 1905, when they were united under one monarch in a personal union....
(on 4 November).
Having chosen to not stand for parliamentary re-election in 1870, he sought retirement from his vicarship in December 1878, and finally left the position when a replacement was found in April 1879. He was granted a 6,000 kr
Norwegian krone
The krone is the currency of Norway and its dependent territories. The plural form is kroner . It is subdivided into 100 øre. The ISO 4217 code is NOK, although the common local abbreviation is kr. The name translates into English as "crown"...
yearly pension. His successor was Johan Nordahl Brun, not to be confused with the poet of the same name
Johan Nordahl Brun
Johan Nordahl Brun was the poet, dramatist, bishop in Bergen , and politician who contributed significantly to the growth of National Romanticism in Norway, contributing to the growing national consciousness.He traveled to Copenhagen in 1767, where he passed his theological examinations...
. Georg Prahl Harbitz moved to Abbediengen in Vestre Aker
Vestre Aker
Vestre Aker is a borough of the city of Oslo, Norway.The previous municipality Aker was merged into the city of Oslo in 1948.The borough of Vestre Aker was organized as part of the 1 January 2004 reform. Previous boroughs...
, where his son resided. He died in 1889, and was buried in Askvold. He had been issued the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav in 1864, as well as the Grand Cross of the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
Order of the Polar Star
Order of the Polar Star
The Order of the Polar Star is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim....
.
Georg Prahl Harbitz was married to Maren Mariken Hof from Aker
Aker, Norway
Aker is a former municipality in Akershus, which lends its name to a municipality and a county in Norway. The name originally belonged to a farm which was located near the current Old Aker Church...
. The couple had four daughters and four sons, the oldest was born in 1827 and the youngest was born just before Maren died in 1839. Georg Prahl Harbitz did not remarry. Their oldest son Johannes Winding Harbitz
Johannes Winding Harbitz
Johannes Winding Harbitz was a Norwegian politician for the Conservative Party.He was born in Askvold as the oldest son of vicar and politician Georg Prahl Harbitz and his wife Maren Mariken Hof. He enrolled as a student in 1850, but soon took off to work at sea...
became a parliament member and government minister. Another son Georg Prahl Harbitz, Jr. became a vicar as well, and married the sister of politician Walter Scott Dahl
Walter Scott Dahl
Walter Scott Dahl was a Norwegian lawyer and a politician for the Liberal Party. Born in Melhus, he attended the Norwegian parliament in the years from 1874 to 1879, and later served as a deputy representative in 1883 and 1885...
. Georg Prahl Harbitz had struggled with health problems, so did several of his children.