Sigurd Lorentzen
Encyclopedia
Sigurd Juell Lorentzen was a Norwegian judge and civil servant.
He was born in Sunndal
, and was a brother of professor Gustav Fredrik Lorentzen. He married judge Lelia
Marie Loe in 1957. They resided in Bærum
.
He enrolled as a student in 1934, graduated with the cand.jur. degree in 1938, and worked as a secretary in Trustkontrollkontoret from 1939 to 1940 and in the Norwegian Price Directorate from 1940 to 1945. After a brief time in the Ministry of Finance
in 1945, to which he was summoned by Wilhelm Thagaard
, he returned to the Price Directorate and remained here until 1949. He was a deputy under-secretary of state in the Ministry of Finance from 1951 to 1960, permanent under-secretary of state in the Ministry of Transport
from 1960 to 1972 and a Supreme Court Justice
from 1972 to 1979.
When hired as deputy under-secretary in 1951, Lorentzen edged out applicants who were generally believed to be better qualified, especially Einar Grøstad
. This was a personal decision by Minister of Finance
Trygve Bratteli
. Lorentzen was the youngest of the applicants, and the second youngest permanent under-secretary in the Ministry at the time. He was also known to be, as a person, quite similar to Trygve Bratteli. He became quite strong; historian Einar Lie has noted that "in reality", the permanent under-secretary of state Friedrich Georg Nissen
did not function "as a real superior to Lorentzen". In 1957, both Grøstad and Lorentzen applied to become the successor of Nissen as permanent under-secretary, the highest position in the Ministry. However, this time Trygve Bratteli chose economist Eivind Erichsen
; Grøstad and Lorentzen were both jurists. Einar Lie has called this "likely[...] the only defeat in Lorentzen's own career". Soon, Lorentzen developed a reserved relation to Erichsen as well as Per Kleppe
—principally, though, since the latter two were economists and Lorentzen was a jurist. Einar Lie wrote that when Trygve Bratteli brought Lorentzen to the Ministry of Transport, he "solved" a problem. It also paved the way for up-and-coming economist Hermod Skånland
.
Lorentzen was also the chairman of the Norwegian Association of Lawyers from 1966 to 1971 and the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund
.
He was born in Sunndal
Sunndal
is a municipality in the Nordmøre region located in the northeast part of Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Sunndalsøra. Other villages include Jordalsgrenda, Øksendalsøra, Grøa, Hoelsand, Ålvund, and Gjøra.With an area of it is the...
, and was a brother of professor Gustav Fredrik Lorentzen. He married judge Lelia
Marie Loe in 1957. They resided in Bærum
Bærum
is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Sandvika. Bærum was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838. A suburb of Oslo, Bærum is located on the west coast of the city....
.
He enrolled as a student in 1934, graduated with the cand.jur. degree in 1938, and worked as a secretary in Trustkontrollkontoret from 1939 to 1940 and in the Norwegian Price Directorate from 1940 to 1945. After a brief time in the Ministry of Finance
Norwegian Ministry of Finance
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Finance is a Norwegian ministry established in 1814. The ministry is responsible for state finance, including the state budget, taxation and economic policy in Norway. It is led by Sigbjørn Johnsen...
in 1945, to which he was summoned by Wilhelm Thagaard
Wilhelm Thagaard
Wilhelm Thagaard was a Norwegian jurist and civil servant. He was born in Kristiania. He chaired Prisdirektoratet over two periods, a total of twenty years. During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany Thagaard was a member of "Kretsen", a leading body of the Norwegian Resistance Movement. A...
, he returned to the Price Directorate and remained here until 1949. He was a deputy under-secretary of state in the Ministry of Finance from 1951 to 1960, permanent under-secretary of state in the Ministry of Transport
Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Transportation and Communications is a Norwegian ministry established in 1946, and is responsible for transportation and communication infrastructure in Norway. It is led by Magnhild Meltveit Kleppa...
from 1960 to 1972 and a Supreme Court Justice
Supreme Court of Norway
The Supreme Court of Norway was established in 1815 on the basis of the Constitution of Norway's §88, prescribing an independent judiciary. It is located in Oslo and is Norway's highest court...
from 1972 to 1979.
When hired as deputy under-secretary in 1951, Lorentzen edged out applicants who were generally believed to be better qualified, especially Einar Grøstad
Einar Grøstad
Einar Grøstad was a Norwegian jurist and civil servant.He graduated with the cand.jur. degree in 1925, and worked as a deputy judge in Romsdal from 1928 to 1930. In 1930 he was hired in the Ministry of Finance, advancing to assistant secretary in 1935...
. This was a personal decision by Minister of Finance
Minister of Finance (Norway)
- 1st Ministry :- 5th Ministry :- Ministry of Finance, Trade and Customs :- Ministry of Finance and Customs :- Ministry of Finance :...
Trygve Bratteli
Trygve Bratteli
was a Norwegian politician from the Labour Party and Prime Minister of Norway in 1971–1972 and 1973–1976.-Early life and career:...
. Lorentzen was the youngest of the applicants, and the second youngest permanent under-secretary in the Ministry at the time. He was also known to be, as a person, quite similar to Trygve Bratteli. He became quite strong; historian Einar Lie has noted that "in reality", the permanent under-secretary of state Friedrich Georg Nissen
Friedrich Georg Nissen
Friedrich Georg Nissen is a Norwegian civil servant.He was born in Bergen, and was a cand.jur. by education. He was hired in the Ministry of Social Affairs in 1915, and was promoted to subdirector in 1919. In 1924 he changed to the Ministry of Finance and Customs...
did not function "as a real superior to Lorentzen". In 1957, both Grøstad and Lorentzen applied to become the successor of Nissen as permanent under-secretary, the highest position in the Ministry. However, this time Trygve Bratteli chose economist Eivind Erichsen
Eivind Erichsen
Eivind Erichsen was a Norwegian economist and civil servant.He was born in Kristiania as a son of postmaster Erik Emanuel Erichsen and Petra Antoine Olsen . In May 1944 he married Ingrid Holmboe. She was a great-grandniece of Bernt Michael and Christopher Andreas Holmboe...
; Grøstad and Lorentzen were both jurists. Einar Lie has called this "likely
Per Kleppe
Per Andreas Hildte Kleppe is a Norwegian economist and politician for the Labour Party.As an elected politician he served in the position of deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament from Oslo in during the term 1954–1957...
—principally, though, since the latter two were economists and Lorentzen was a jurist. Einar Lie wrote that when Trygve Bratteli brought Lorentzen to the Ministry of Transport, he "solved" a problem. It also paved the way for up-and-coming economist Hermod Skånland
Hermod Skånland
Hermod Skånland was a Norwegian economist and civil servant, who served as the Governor of the Central Bank of Norway from 1985 to 1993.- Biography :...
.
Lorentzen was also the chairman of the Norwegian Association of Lawyers from 1966 to 1971 and the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund
Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund
The Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund is a government agency that provides loans and grants to Norwegian and certain foreign students for their education...
.