Wilhelm Christopher Christophersen
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Christopher Christophersen (15 December 1832 – 26 July 1913) was a Norwegian
diplomat, noted for his contributions in facilitating the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905 and later his service as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
, he was a brother of Christian Christophersen and Peter Christophersen. He earned his examen artium
in 1850. After a brief career as a private tutor in the Netherlands, Christophersen entered the study of law at the Royal Frederick University
in 1853, graduating in 1857. He worked as a language teacher to finance his education.
From 1857 he worked in the Ministry of Auditing, but in 1959 his language skills got him an assignment within the Ministry of the Interior's office for trade and consular affairs. In 1864 he was transferred to the Swedish-Norwegian
foreign service. He served as consul in Barcelona
from 1864 and in Buenos Aires
from 1868 to 1870, and then as consul-general in the same city until 1878. Having secured this position, he was stationed in Paris
; Leith
, Scotland
; and Antwerp. Upon the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905, he stayed in Antwerp in the same position, only for the Norwegian government.
In March 1908, he was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the first cabinet
of Gunnar Knudsen
, where he served until February 1910, when the cabinet resigned.
He was married to Berta Alexandra Juliane Carola Juhlin-Dannfelt, a Swedish citizen, since June 1876.
's good graces.
As consul, he had several notable accomplishments:
As foreign minister, his in-depth knowledge and field experience with consular affairs made him particularly suited to build a foreign service organization to serve Norwegian economic interests. He also worked to reconcile relations between Norway and Sweden. His wife was Swedish, the daughter of a Swedish diplomat.
He accepted the position as foreign minister on the condition that he was able to return to his post as consul general in Antwerp. But he instead was awarded an adequate pension and remained in 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...
diplomat, noted for his contributions in facilitating the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905 and later his service as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Biography
The son of a customs official in BrevikBrevik
is a town in Telemark, Norway with an estimated population of 2,700. Brevik was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 , but was merged with Porsgrunn on January 1, 1964. Brevik is regarded one of the best preserved towns from the sailing ship era...
, he was a brother of Christian Christophersen and Peter Christophersen. He earned his examen artium
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
in 1850. After a brief career as a private tutor in the Netherlands, Christophersen entered the study of law at the Royal Frederick University
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
in 1853, graduating in 1857. He worked as a language teacher to finance his education.
From 1857 he worked in the Ministry of Auditing, but in 1959 his language skills got him an assignment within the Ministry of the Interior's office for trade and consular affairs. In 1864 he was transferred to the Swedish-Norwegian
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....
foreign service. He served as consul in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
from 1864 and in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
from 1868 to 1870, and then as consul-general in the same city until 1878. Having secured this position, he was stationed in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
; Leith
Leith
-South Leith v. North Leith:Up until the late 16th century Leith , comprised two separate towns on either side of the river....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
; and Antwerp. Upon the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905, he stayed in Antwerp in the same position, only for the Norwegian government.
In March 1908, he was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the first cabinet
First cabinet Knudsen
The Knudsen's First Cabinet governed Norway between 19 March 1908 and 2 February 1910. It had the following composition:-Cabinet members:-State Secretary:Not to be confused with the modern title State Secretary...
of Gunnar Knudsen
Gunnar Knudsen
Gunnar Knudsen , born Aanon Gunerius Knudsen, was a Norwegian politician from the Liberal Party who had two spells as Prime Minister of Norway from 1908 to 1910 and from 1913 to 1920...
, where he served until February 1910, when the cabinet resigned.
He was married to Berta Alexandra Juliane Carola Juhlin-Dannfelt, a Swedish citizen, since June 1876.
Legacy
As a professional within the field of Swedish-Norwegian foreign affairs, Christophersen's career was limited by his lack of family connections and financial resources. As he had served on the commission to study a separate consular corps for Norway, as well as other committees on the topic, he fell out of Oscar IIOscar II
Oscar II may refer to:*Oscar II of Sweden , who ruled Sweden and Norway.*Oscar class submarine, used by the Russian Navy.*Oscar II, Steamship used by Henry Ford for his peace expedition in 1915....
's good graces.
As consul, he had several notable accomplishments:
- In 1884-85, acting as the ad hoc plenipotentiaryPlenipotentiaryThe word plenipotentiary has two meanings. As a noun, it refers to a person who has "full powers." In particular, the term commonly refers to a diplomat fully authorized to represent his government as a prerogative...
emissary in Mexico for Sweden-Norway, he had secured the release of a Norwegian ship and negotiated a trade agreement between Mexico and the kingdom he represented
- He also negotiated trade agreements limited to Norway (and not Sweden) with Spain in 1893 and Switzerland in 1894.
As foreign minister, his in-depth knowledge and field experience with consular affairs made him particularly suited to build a foreign service organization to serve Norwegian economic interests. He also worked to reconcile relations between Norway and Sweden. His wife was Swedish, the daughter of a Swedish diplomat.
He accepted the position as foreign minister on the condition that he was able to return to his post as consul general in Antwerp. But he instead was awarded an adequate pension and remained in Norway.