Gerhard Schøning
Encyclopedia
Gerhard Schøning was a Norwegian
historian. His Reise som giennem en Deel af Norge i de Aar 1773, 1774, 1775 paa Hans Majestets Kongens Bekostning documenting travel through Trondheim
, Gudbrandsdal
and Hedmark
, Norway
in 1773–1775 has been recognized as both a historical reference and as a "minor travel classic."
, Lofoten
, the son of merchant Andreas Schøning and Martha Ursin. His early education was provided by local ministers. He began his formal schooling in 1739 in Trondhjem
and in 1742 he began at the university, passing the theology examination in 1744 and the magistrate examination in 1748.
In 1750 he was appointed rector at Trondhjem. His first work Forsøg til de nordiske landes, særdeles Norges, gamle Geografi (Inquiry into the Nordic countries, particularly old Norwegian Geography), was published in 1751. The same year he became rector of Trondheim Cathedral
. He traveled there together with the Danish historian Peter Frederik Suhm
, with whom he continued to collaborate over the following years. Together they produced Forbedringer til den gamle danske og norske Historie (Improvements to the old Danish-Norwegian History) in 1757.
In 1758 Bishop Johan Ernst Gunnerus
of Trondhjem invited the two historians to collaborate with him in founding a Norwegian science society, the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
. In 1765 Schøning was appointment as professor of rhetoric
and history at the Sorø Academy
. He published Om de gamle Grækeres og Romeres Kundskab om de nordiske Lande (About the Ancient Greek and Roman knowledge of the Nordic countries) in 1769, which became a prelude to his main work, Norges Riiges Historie (The History of the Kingdom of Norway), the first volume of three that were planned was published in 1771. This work dealt with Norway's history from the earliest times up until 995, advancing theories about early migrations into Norway.
As part of his research to support later volumes of this work, he set off on an extended journey to collect data in Norway. He received travel support from the King Christian VII of Denmark
, and spent several years beginning in 1773 traveling in Trondhjem, Gudbrandsdal
, Hedmark
and Christiania
. The result of these journeys was his famous travel journal Reise som giennem en Deel af Norge i de Aar 1773, 1774, 1775 paa Hans Majestets Kongens Bekostning (Travel through a part of Norway in the years of 1773, 1774, 1775 at His Majesty the King's Expense), of which only the first two volumes were published in 1778. His research journey was interrupted on 23 August in 1775 when the king appointed him the head of the Royal Archives in Copenhagen. He died 18 July 1780. His work on an improved Norwegian history went uncompleted.
In 1756 Schøning married Fredrikke Hveding, who died in 1788; the marriage was childless.
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...
historian. His Reise som giennem en Deel af Norge i de Aar 1773, 1774, 1775 paa Hans Majestets Kongens Bekostning documenting travel through Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
, Gudbrandsdal
Gudbrandsdal
The Gudbrandsdalen is a valley and traditional district in the Norwegian county of Oppland. The valley is oriented in a north-westerly direction from Lillehammer at Mjøsa, extending 230 km toward Romsdal...
and Hedmark
Hedmark
is a county in Norway, bordering Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Akershus. The county administration is in Hamar.Hedmark makes up the northeastern part of Østlandet, the southeastern part of the country. It includes a long part of the borderline with Sweden, Dalarna County and Värmland County. The...
, 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...
in 1773–1775 has been recognized as both a historical reference and as a "minor travel classic."
Career
Gerhard Schøning was born 2 May 1722 on Skotnes farm in BuksnesBuksnes
Buksnes is a populated area in Vestvågøy municipality, Nordland county, Norway.-History:Buksnes was created as Buksnes formannskapsdistrikt in 1837. On July 1, 1919 the district of Hol with 2,272 inhabitants was separated from Buksnes to create a municipality of its own. The split left Buksnes...
, Lofoten
Lofoten
Lofoten is an archipelago and a traditional district in the county of Nordland, Norway. Though lying within the Arctic Circle, the archipelago experiences one of the world's largest elevated temperature anomalies relative to its high latitude.-Etymology:...
, the son of merchant Andreas Schøning and Martha Ursin. His early education was provided by local ministers. He began his formal schooling in 1739 in Trondhjem
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
and in 1742 he began at the university, passing the theology examination in 1744 and the magistrate examination in 1748.
In 1750 he was appointed rector at Trondhjem. His first work Forsøg til de nordiske landes, særdeles Norges, gamle Geografi (Inquiry into the Nordic countries, particularly old Norwegian Geography), was published in 1751. The same year he became rector of Trondheim Cathedral
Nidaros Cathedral
Nidaros Cathedral is a Church of Norway cathedral located in the city of Trondheim in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It was the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nidaros from its establishment in 1152 until its abolition in 1537. Since the Reformation, it has been the cathedral of the...
. He traveled there together with the Danish historian Peter Frederik Suhm
Peter Frederik Suhm
Peter Frederik Suhm , was a Danish-Norwegian historian and Councillor of State.Suhm studied at the University of Copenhagen in 1746-1751, and one of his teacher was Ludvig Holberg...
, with whom he continued to collaborate over the following years. Together they produced Forbedringer til den gamle danske og norske Historie (Improvements to the old Danish-Norwegian History) in 1757.
In 1758 Bishop Johan Ernst Gunnerus
Johan Ernst Gunnerus
Johan Ernst Gunnerus was a Norwegian bishop and botanist. Gunnerus was born at Christiania. He was bishop of the Diocese of Nidaros from 1758 until his death and also a professor of theology at the University of Copenhagen....
of Trondhjem invited the two historians to collaborate with him in founding a Norwegian science society, the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
The Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters is a learned society based in Trondheim, Norway.-History:DKNVS was founded in 1760 by bishop of Nidaros Johan Ernst Gunnerus, headmaster at the Trondheim Cathedral School Gerhard Schøning and Councillor of State Peter Frederik Suhm under the name...
. In 1765 Schøning was appointment as professor of rhetoric
Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations. As a subject of formal study and a productive civic practice, rhetoric has played a central role in the Western...
and history at the Sorø Academy
Sorø Academy
Sorø Academy is a boarding school and public gymnasium located in the small town of Sorø, Denmark. It traces its history back to the 12th century when Bishop Absalon founded a monastery at the site, which was confiscated by the Crown after the Reformation, and ever since, on and off, it has served...
. He published Om de gamle Grækeres og Romeres Kundskab om de nordiske Lande (About the Ancient Greek and Roman knowledge of the Nordic countries) in 1769, which became a prelude to his main work, Norges Riiges Historie (The History of the Kingdom of Norway), the first volume of three that were planned was published in 1771. This work dealt with Norway's history from the earliest times up until 995, advancing theories about early migrations into Norway.
As part of his research to support later volumes of this work, he set off on an extended journey to collect data in Norway. He received travel support from the King Christian VII of Denmark
Christian VII of Denmark
Christian VII was King of Denmark and Norway and Duke of Schleswig and Holstein from 1766 until his death. He was the son of Danish King Frederick V and his first consort Louisa, daughter of King George II of Great Britain....
, and spent several years beginning in 1773 traveling in Trondhjem, Gudbrandsdal
Gudbrandsdal
The Gudbrandsdalen is a valley and traditional district in the Norwegian county of Oppland. The valley is oriented in a north-westerly direction from Lillehammer at Mjøsa, extending 230 km toward Romsdal...
, Hedmark
Hedmark
is a county in Norway, bordering Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Akershus. The county administration is in Hamar.Hedmark makes up the northeastern part of Østlandet, the southeastern part of the country. It includes a long part of the borderline with Sweden, Dalarna County and Värmland County. The...
and 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...
. The result of these journeys was his famous travel journal Reise som giennem en Deel af Norge i de Aar 1773, 1774, 1775 paa Hans Majestets Kongens Bekostning (Travel through a part of Norway in the years of 1773, 1774, 1775 at His Majesty the King's Expense), of which only the first two volumes were published in 1778. His research journey was interrupted on 23 August in 1775 when the king appointed him the head of the Royal Archives in Copenhagen. He died 18 July 1780. His work on an improved Norwegian history went uncompleted.
In 1756 Schøning married Fredrikke Hveding, who died in 1788; the marriage was childless.
Published works
- Forsøg til de nordiske landes, særdeles Norges, gamle Geografi, 1751
- Forbedringer til den gamle danske og norske Historie, 1757
- Om de norskes og en Del andre nordiske Folks Oprindelse, 1769
- Om de gamle Grækeres og Romeres Kundskab om de nordiske Lande
- Norges Riiges Historie (The History of the Kingdom of Norway) — volume 1 of 3 planned was published in 1771
- Reise som giennem en Deel af Norge i de Aar 1773, 1774, 1775 paa Hans Majestets Kongens Bekostning (Travel through a part of Norway in the years of 1773, 1774, 1775 at His Majesty the King's Expense) — only the first two volumes were published in 1778.
External links
- Gerhard Schøning's works are available at Google Books
- Project Runeberg has a biography of Gerhard Schøning at Biography which is extracted from the Dansk biografisk leksikonDansk biografisk leksikonDansk biografisk leksikon is a Danish biographical dictionary that has been published in three editions...
edited by Carl Frederik BrickaCarl Frederik BrickaCarl Frederik Bricka was a Danish archivist, historian, and biographer. He was the publisher of the Dansk biografisk lexikon: tillige omfattende Norge for Tidsrummet 1537–1814, a large Danish biographic encyclopedia published in 19 volumes from 1887 to 1905.- References :*L.L.: , in Blangstrup,...
, volume 15, page 451 GyldendalGyldendalGyldendal may refer to:*Gyldendal, a Danish publishing house*Gyldendal Norsk Forlag, a Norwegian publishing house founded as a demerger from the Danish one*Søren Gyldendal, the founder of the Danish publishing house...
, 1887-1905 (in Danish)