Orla Lehmann
Encyclopedia
Peter Martin Orla Lehmann (19 May 1810 – 13 September 1870) was a Danish
statesman
, a key figure in the development of Denmark's parliamentary government
.
He was born in Copenhagen
, son of Martin Christian Gottlieb Lehmann (1775–1856), assessor, later conference councillor (konferensraad) and deputee in the College of Commerce. The father was German, born in Haselau
at Uetersen
in Holstein, while the mother was Danish and daughter of a Mayor in Copenhagen. The family belonged to the same social circle as the Ørsted
brothers and the poet Oehlenschläger
. Orla was put in the German realschule
in the St. Petri parish, later moved to the Borgerdydskole and began his studies at the University of Copenhagen
in 1827. After a year studying literature, when he read Heine
in the company of H. C. Andersen
, he began his Law studies. After a study programme which he found tedious, he graduated in 1833.
Although of German
extraction, Orla Lehmann's sympathies were with the Danish National Liberal Party
. and he contributed to the liberal journal the Kjøbenhavnsposten while he was a student, and from 1839 to 1842 edited, with Christian N. David, the Fædrelandet. In 1842 he was condemned to three months imprisonment for a radical speech. He took a considerable part in the demonstrations of 1848, and was regarded as the leader of the Eider-Danes, that is, of the party which regarded the Eider River
as the boundary of Denmark, and the Duchy of Schleswig as an integral part of the kingdom.
He entered the Cabinet of Moltke I
in March 1848, and was employed on diplomatic missions to London
and Berlin
in connection with the Schleswig-Holstein Question
but left the cabinet the same year because of his dissatisfaction with the political situation. As a local official in Jutland he was for some months in 1849 a prisoner of the Schleswig-Holsteiners at Gottorp
. A member of the Folketing
from 1851 to 1853, of the Landsting
from 1854 to 1870, and from 1856 to 1866 of the Rigsråd
, he became Minister of the Interior in 1861 in the cabinet of K. C. Hall
, retiring with him in 1863.
During these years he was overshadowed by the younger National Liberals especially by Hall, however he in many ways did a great work behind the scenes, for instance it was he who carried through the law of women’s economic independence. His last years were embittered by the defeat of 1864 and by his presentiment of the new German great power. He died at Copenhagen in September 1870.
Being one of the most stirring speakers of early Danish parliamentarian life (almost like Lamartine in France) and besides a charming and committed man Lehmann however seems to have lacked both sense of reality and a more heartfelt sense of democracy. As “the freedom fighter of 1848” he remained a national hero in Denmark for several generations but he was not able to maintain his influence.
His book On the Causes of the Misfortunes of Denmark (1864) went through many editions, and his works were published posthumously in four volumes.
His two grandsons were the politician Ove Rode
and the author Helge Rode
.
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...
statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
, a key figure in the development of Denmark's parliamentary government
Government of Denmark
Denmark is a constitutional monarchy with a representative democracy based on a unicameral parliamentary system. The affairs of Government are decided by a Cabinet of Ministers, which is led by a Prime Minister...
.
He was born in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, son of Martin Christian Gottlieb Lehmann (1775–1856), assessor, later conference councillor (konferensraad) and deputee in the College of Commerce. The father was German, born in Haselau
Haselau
Haselau is a municipality in the district of Pinneberg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany....
at Uetersen
Uetersen
Uetersen ) is a city in the district of Pinneberg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is situated approx. south of Elmshorn, and northwest of Hamburg at the small river Pinnau, close to the Elbe river...
in Holstein, while the mother was Danish and daughter of a Mayor in Copenhagen. The family belonged to the same social circle as the Ørsted
Anders Sandøe Ørsted
Anders Sandøe Ørsted was a Danish politician and jurist. He served as the Prime Minister of Denmark in 1853-1854 as leader of the Cabinet of Ørsted....
brothers and the poet Oehlenschläger
Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger
Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger was a Danish poet and playwright. He introduced romanticism into Danish literature.-Biography:He was born in Vesterbro, then a suburb of Copenhagen, on 14 November 1779...
. Orla was put in the German realschule
Realschule
The Realschule is a type of secondary school in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. It has also existed in Croatia , Denmark , Sweden , Hungary and in the Russian Empire .-History:The Realschule was an outgrowth of the rationalism and empiricism of the seventeenth and...
in the St. Petri parish, later moved to the Borgerdydskole and began his studies 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 1827. After a year studying literature, when he read Heine
Heinrich Heine
Christian Johann Heinrich Heine was one of the most significant German poets of the 19th century. He was also a journalist, essayist, and literary critic. He is best known outside Germany for his early lyric poetry, which was set to music in the form of Lieder by composers such as Robert Schumann...
in the company of H. C. Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
, he began his Law studies. After a study programme which he found tedious, he graduated in 1833.
Although of German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
extraction, Orla Lehmann's sympathies were with the Danish National Liberal Party
National Liberal Party (Denmark)
The National Liberal Party , was a Danish political party or political movement from the 1830s until about 1880.Often considered "the first Danish political party" the National Liberals were gradually founded as the opposition against the Danish absolute monarchy...
. and he contributed to the liberal journal the Kjøbenhavnsposten while he was a student, and from 1839 to 1842 edited, with Christian N. David, the Fædrelandet. In 1842 he was condemned to three months imprisonment for a radical speech. He took a considerable part in the demonstrations of 1848, and was regarded as the leader of the Eider-Danes, that is, of the party which regarded the Eider River
Eider River
The Eider is the longest river of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. The river starts near Bordesholm and reaches the southwestern outskirts of Kiel on the shores of the Baltic Sea, but flows to the west, ending in the North Sea...
as the boundary of Denmark, and the Duchy of Schleswig as an integral part of the kingdom.
He entered the Cabinet of Moltke I
Cabinet of Moltke I
The Cabinet of Moltke I was the government of Denmark from 22 March 1848 to 15 November 1848. It was also referred to as the March Cabinet....
in March 1848, and was employed on diplomatic missions to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in connection with the Schleswig-Holstein Question
Schleswig-Holstein Question
The Schleswig-Holstein Question was a complex of diplomatic and other issues arising in the 19th century from the relations of two duchies, Schleswig and Holstein , to the Danish crown and to the German Confederation....
but left the cabinet the same year because of his dissatisfaction with the political situation. As a local official in Jutland he was for some months in 1849 a prisoner of the Schleswig-Holsteiners at Gottorp
Gottorp
Gottorf Castle is a castle and estate in the city of Schleswig, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is the ancestral home of the Holstein-Gottorp branch of the House of Oldenburg...
. A member of the Folketing
Folketing
The Folketing , is the national parliament of Denmark. The name literally means "People's thing"—that is, the people's governing assembly. It is located in Christiansborg Palace, on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen....
from 1851 to 1853, of the Landsting
Landsting (Denmark)
The Landsting was a house of the Rigsdag in Denmark from 1849 until 1953, when the bicameral system was abolished. The house had powers equal to the Folketing, which made the two houses of parliament hard to distinguish....
from 1854 to 1870, and from 1856 to 1866 of the Rigsråd
Rigsraadet
Rigsraadet, or Riksrådet, , is the name of the councils of the Scandinavian countries that ruled the countries together with the kings from late Middle Ages to the 17th century...
, he became Minister of the Interior in 1861 in the cabinet of K. C. Hall
Carl Christian Hall
Carl Christian Hall , Danish statesman, son of the highly respected artisan and train-band colonel Marls Hall, was born at Christianshavn....
, retiring with him in 1863.
During these years he was overshadowed by the younger National Liberals especially by Hall, however he in many ways did a great work behind the scenes, for instance it was he who carried through the law of women’s economic independence. His last years were embittered by the defeat of 1864 and by his presentiment of the new German great power. He died at Copenhagen in September 1870.
Being one of the most stirring speakers of early Danish parliamentarian life (almost like Lamartine in France) and besides a charming and committed man Lehmann however seems to have lacked both sense of reality and a more heartfelt sense of democracy. As “the freedom fighter of 1848” he remained a national hero in Denmark for several generations but he was not able to maintain his influence.
His book On the Causes of the Misfortunes of Denmark (1864) went through many editions, and his works were published posthumously in four volumes.
His two grandsons were the politician Ove Rode
Ove Rode
Ove Rode was a Danish politician, newspaper editor and Minister of Interior Affairs for Det Radikale Venstre....
and the author Helge Rode
Helge Rode
Helge Rode was a Danish writer and critic, and journalist for Politiken, Berlingske Tidende, and Illustreret Tidende. He was a critic of Georg Brandes and the Modern Breakthrough....
.