Jacob Liv Borch Sverdrup
Encyclopedia
Jacob Liv Borch Sverdrup (8 February 1775 – 15 May 1841) was a Norwegian educator and farmer, known for establishing the first agricultural school
in Scandinavia
.
as a son of landowner Peter Jacob Sverdrup (1728–1795) and his wife Hilleborg Margrethe Schultz (1743–1828). He was the brother of Georg Sverdrup
. He was also a nephew of Jørgen Jørgensen Sverdrup.
He was married twice. From August 1801 he was married to Gundelle Birgitte Jean, who died in December 1820). In March 1826 he married Nicoline Schjelderup (1789–1840). From the first marriage he had the sons Harald Ulrik Sverdrup
and Johan Sverdrup
. The latter served as Prime Minister of Norway
from 1884 to 1889. Through Harald Ulrik Sverdrup he was the grandfather of Jakob Liv Rosted Sverdrup, Harald Ulrik Sverdrup, Jr
, Georg Sverdrup and Edvard Sverdrup
. Through his daughter Livia Sverdrup he was a grandfather of Jonas Smitt, Jakob Sverdrup Smitt
and Livius Smitt. He was also a great-grandfather of Jakob Sverdrup
, Georg Johan Sverdrup, Harald Sverdrup
and Leif Sverdrup.
from 1792, he enrolled at the University of Copenhagen
in 1794. He mainly studied botany
, but also language and history. He worked as a private tutor and teacher in Denmark after studying, but returned to Norway in 1807, the same year as the Gunboat War
broke out. While working as headmaster in Kongsberg
, he practiced horticulture
on the school property. Herman Wedel-Jarlsberg
, who was County Governor, hired him as manager Jarlsberg
manor in 1812. In addition to horticultural and agricultural improvements at Jarlsberg, Sverdrup set dairy farming
. In 1815 a cheese factory was established. The name Jarlsberg was later used for Jarlsberg cheese
, which was first developed by Anders Larsen Bakke in the second half of the eighteenth century, and got its current design in 1956.
In 1825 Sverdrup left Jarlsberg, and bought the farm Nedre Semb in Borre
. In the same year he established an agricultural school
at this farm, which is recognized as the first of its kind in Scandinavia
. A blacksmith
and a tool shed were raised as well. The school was not attended chiefly by sons of proprietors, rather by sons of farmers. The theoretical aspect of the education was downplayed in favor of the practical. Nonetheless, Sverdrup also monitored European academic discussions in his field, especially the writings of Albrecht Thaer
. Sverdrup published several books, contributed to newspapers and edited the magazines Magazin for Landmanden from 1828 to 1832 and Den erfarne Landmand from 1837 to 1839.
From 1835 to 1840 he was employed by Georg Sverdrup's brother-in-law as manager of Fritzøe Works. His son Peter Jacob continued his work, but the funding for Sem Agricultural School was cut by the Norwegian Parliament in 1836. However, other agricultural schools soon appeared, including schools in Sweden (1834) and Denmark (1837). The Norwegian College of Agriculture followed in 1854. Sverdrup died in May 1841 near Larvik
. A bust
of Jacob Liv Borch Sverdrup was raised at the Norwegian College of Agriculture in 1925.
Agricultural education
Agricultural education is instruction about crop production, livestock management, soil and water conservation, and various other aspects of agriculture. Agricultural education includes instruction in food education, such as nutrition...
in 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,...
.
Personal life
Sverdrup was born at Laugen manor in NærøyNærøy
Nærøy is a municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. Nærøy is part of the Namdalen region. Norway's smallest town, Kolvereid, is the administration centre of the municipality...
as a son of landowner Peter Jacob Sverdrup (1728–1795) and his wife Hilleborg Margrethe Schultz (1743–1828). He was the brother of Georg Sverdrup
Georg Sverdrup
Georg Sverdrup , born Jørgen Sverdrup, was a Norwegian philologist, who is well known for being a member of Norwegian Constituent Assembly in Eidsvoll in 1814 and later the parliament. He was also responsible for building the first Norwegian university library...
. He was also a nephew of Jørgen Jørgensen Sverdrup.
He was married twice. From August 1801 he was married to Gundelle Birgitte Jean, who died in December 1820). In March 1826 he married Nicoline Schjelderup (1789–1840). From the first marriage he had the sons Harald Ulrik Sverdrup
Harald Ulrik Sverdrup (politician)
Harald Ulrik Sverdrup was a Norwegian priest and politician.He was born at Jarlsberg Manor in Vestfold. His brother Johan Sverdrup would found the Liberal Party and become Prime Minister of Norway in 1884....
and Johan Sverdrup
Johan Sverdrup
Johan Sverdrup was a Norwegian politician from the Liberal Party. He was the first Prime Minister of Norway after the introduction of parliamentarism. Sverdrup was Prime Minister from 1884 to 1889.- Early years :...
. The latter served as Prime Minister of Norway
Prime Minister of Norway
The Prime Minister of Norway is the political leader of Norway and the Head of His Majesty's Government. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Stortinget , to their political party, and ultimately the...
from 1884 to 1889. Through Harald Ulrik Sverdrup he was the grandfather of Jakob Liv Rosted Sverdrup, Harald Ulrik Sverdrup, Jr
Harald Ulrik Sverdrup (1846–1916)
Harald Ulrik Sverdrup was a Norwegian engineer.He was born at the farm Rise in Sem as a son of Peter Jacob Sverdrup and Aaselle Thurmann...
, Georg Sverdrup and Edvard Sverdrup
Edvard Sverdrup
Johan Edvard Sverdrup was a Norwegian educator, author and church leader. Edvard Sverdrup was one of the key theologian in the Church of Norway in the first few decades of the 1900s.-Biography:...
. Through his daughter Livia Sverdrup he was a grandfather of Jonas Smitt, Jakob Sverdrup Smitt
Jakob Sverdrup Smitt
-Career:Smitt was born in Nordre Land. He was the son of the dean Anton Elias Smitt and Livia Sverdrup , and brother of Jonas and Livius Smitt. His father was a curate in Land from 1835 until 1840, when he became vicar in Vinje. Jakob Sverdrup Smitt was home schooled, except for one year of...
and Livius Smitt. He was also a great-grandfather of Jakob Sverdrup
Jakob Sverdrup (philologist)
-Personal life:He was born in Leikanger as a son of the bishop and politician Jakob Liv Rosted Sverdrup . He was a brother of Georg Johan Sverdrup, uncle of historian Jakob Sverdrup, a first cousin of Harald Ulrik Sverdrup and Leif Sverdrup, a nephew of Georg Sverdrup and Edvard Sverdrup, grandson...
, Georg Johan Sverdrup, Harald Sverdrup
Harald Sverdrup
Harald Ulrik Sverdrup was a Norwegian oceanographer and meteorologist who made a number of important theoretical discoveries in these fields. Having first worked in Bergen and Leipzig he was the scientific director of the North Polar expedition of Roald Amundsen aboard the Maud from 1918 to 1925...
and Leif Sverdrup.
Career
The son of landowners, Sverdrup embarked on an academic career. After attending school in ThrondhjemTrondheim
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...
from 1792, he enrolled 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...
in 1794. He mainly studied botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
, but also language and history. He worked as a private tutor and teacher in Denmark after studying, but returned to Norway in 1807, the same year as the Gunboat War
Gunboat War
The Gunboat War was the naval conflict between Denmark–Norway and the British Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. The war's name is derived from the Danish tactic of employing small gunboats against the conventional Royal Navy...
broke out. While working as headmaster in Kongsberg
Kongsberg
is a town and municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is located at the southern end of the traditional region of Numedal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Kongsberg....
, he practiced horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
on the school property. Herman Wedel-Jarlsberg
Johan Caspar Herman Wedel-Jarlsberg
Johan Caspar Herman Wedel-Jarlsberg was a politician and a Norwegian count, one of only two titled noblemen in Norway...
, who was County Governor, hired him as manager Jarlsberg
Jarlsberg
Jarlsberg was a former county which forms part of Vestfold county in Norway. The former counties of Jarlsberg and Larvik were merged in 1821...
manor in 1812. In addition to horticultural and agricultural improvements at Jarlsberg, Sverdrup set dairy farming
Dairy farming
Dairy farming is a class of agricultural, or an animal husbandry, enterprise, for long-term production of milk, usually from dairy cows but also from goats and sheep, which may be either processed on-site or transported to a dairy factory for processing and eventual retail sale.Most dairy farms...
. In 1815 a cheese factory was established. The name Jarlsberg was later used for Jarlsberg cheese
Jarlsberg cheese
Jarlsberg is a mild cow's-milk cheese with large irregular holes or what are commonly referred to as "eyes", originating in Jarlsberg, Norway.-Description:...
, which was first developed by Anders Larsen Bakke in the second half of the eighteenth century, and got its current design in 1956.
In 1825 Sverdrup left Jarlsberg, and bought the farm Nedre Semb in Borre
Borre, Norway
Borre is a village in the municipality of Horten, Vestfold county, Norway. The village of Borre had provided the name of the former Borre municipality .-History:...
. In the same year he established an agricultural school
Agricultural education
Agricultural education is instruction about crop production, livestock management, soil and water conservation, and various other aspects of agriculture. Agricultural education includes instruction in food education, such as nutrition...
at this farm, which is recognized as the first of its kind in 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,...
. A blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
and a tool shed were raised as well. The school was not attended chiefly by sons of proprietors, rather by sons of farmers. The theoretical aspect of the education was downplayed in favor of the practical. Nonetheless, Sverdrup also monitored European academic discussions in his field, especially the writings of Albrecht Thaer
Albrecht Thaer
Albrecht Daniel Thaer was a renowned German agronomist and an avid supporter of the humus theory for plant nutrition.Thaer was born in Celle and died in Wriezen...
. Sverdrup published several books, contributed to newspapers and edited the magazines Magazin for Landmanden from 1828 to 1832 and Den erfarne Landmand from 1837 to 1839.
From 1835 to 1840 he was employed by Georg Sverdrup's brother-in-law as manager of Fritzøe Works. His son Peter Jacob continued his work, but the funding for Sem Agricultural School was cut by the Norwegian Parliament in 1836. However, other agricultural schools soon appeared, including schools in Sweden (1834) and Denmark (1837). The Norwegian College of Agriculture followed in 1854. Sverdrup died in May 1841 near Larvik
Larvik
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Larvik. Larvik kommune - has about 41 364 inhabitants and covers 530 km2....
. A bust
Bust (sculpture)
A bust is a sculpted or cast representation of the upper part of the human figure, depicting a person's head and neck, as well as a variable portion of the chest and shoulders. The piece is normally supported by a plinth. These forms recreate the likeness of an individual...
of Jacob Liv Borch Sverdrup was raised at the Norwegian College of Agriculture in 1925.