Yngvar Nielsen
Encyclopedia
Yngvar Nielsen was a Norwegian historian
, politician
, geographer
and pioneer of tourism
in Norway.
, Aust-Agder
. He was the son of Norwegian Telegraph Director, Carsten Tank Nielsen
(1818–92) and Alvilde Olsen (1821–1890). Nielsen descended on both father's and mother's side from the established civil and commercial bourgeoisie. His grandfather, Jacob Nielsen, had been one of Christiania's largest lumber dealers and director of the National Bank.
and Denmark
), he was employed in the National Archival Services of Norway
(Arkivverket) from 1869 to 1978 and at the same time served as librarian at the Deichman Library. He was appointed manager of the University's Ethnographic Museum in 1877, and the following year he became research fellow in history and geography. In 1880, he completed his philosophical doctorate thesis on the council Riksrådet.
Nielsen was an important advisor in Norway to King Oscar II of Sweden and Norway. He had close connections to the Royal Family
, and was the tutor of the Swedish princes Oscar and Eugen
during their stay at the University of Christiania in the 1880s.
Nielsen was chairman of the Norwegian Historical Association
, and edited the journal Historisk Tidsskrift
from 1903 to 1912. Together with Ludvig Ludvigsen Daae
he co-edited the journal Vidar 1887–89. Nielsen was a board member of the Norwegian Trekking Association from 1879 and Chairman 1890–1908. In 1879 he released the travel guide Reisehaandbog over Norge
, popularly called Yngvar, which appeared in 12 editions until 1915 and came to play an important role in the spread of tourism. His guide book
s were published in English
and German
.
Probably Nielsen's most important work as an historian was Lensgreve Johan Caspar Herman Wedel Jarlsberg (three volumes, 1901–1902), his biography of Johan Caspar Herman Wedel-Jarlsberg
(1779–1840). Wedel-Jarlsberg played an active role in the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll
in 1814 and was the first native Norwegian to hold the post of Governor of Norway during the union with Sweden.
(1847–1927), the daughter of Peder Anker Count Wedel-Jarlsberg (1909–1893). Nielsen was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
from 1875 and the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
from 1897. He received Reward Medal from King Oscar II in 1882, was knighted in the Order of St. Olav in 1894 and received the Commander Cross 1911. He was knighted by the Swedish Nordstjärneorden
and owner of several other foreign orders.
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, geographer
Geographer
A geographer is a scholar whose area of study is geography, the study of Earth's natural environment and human society.Although geographers are historically known as people who make maps, map making is actually the field of study of cartography, a subset of geography...
and pioneer of tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
in Norway.
Background
Nielsen was born in ArendalArendal
is a town and municipality in the county of Aust-Agder, Norway. Arendal belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet.The town of Arendal is the administrative center the municipality and also of Aust-Agder county...
, Aust-Agder
Aust-Agder
is a county in Norway, bordering Telemark, Rogaland, and Vest-Agder. In 2002, there were 102,945 inhabitants, which is 2.2% of the total population in Norway. Its area is . The administrative center of the county is in Arendal....
. He was the son of Norwegian Telegraph Director, Carsten Tank Nielsen
Carsten Tank Nielsen
Carsten Tank Nielsen was a Norwegian appointed Minister of the Navy in 1884....
(1818–92) and Alvilde Olsen (1821–1890). Nielsen descended on both father's and mother's side from the established civil and commercial bourgeoisie. His grandfather, Jacob Nielsen, had been one of Christiania's largest lumber dealers and director of the National Bank.
Career
Nielsen studied philology and took a linguistic-historical degree in 1865. After three years as a teacher at Nissens Latin School (interrupted by several rounds of archival studies in SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Denmark
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...
), he was employed in the National Archival Services of Norway
National Archival Services of Norway
The National Archival Services of Norway is a Norwegian government agency that is responsible for keeping state archives, conducts control of public archiving and works to preserve private archives. It is subordinate to the Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs and consists of the National...
(Arkivverket) from 1869 to 1978 and at the same time served as librarian at the Deichman Library. He was appointed manager of the University's Ethnographic Museum in 1877, and the following year he became research fellow in history and geography. In 1880, he completed his philosophical doctorate thesis on the council Riksrådet.
Nielsen was an important advisor in Norway to King Oscar II of Sweden and Norway. He had close connections to the Royal Family
Swedish Royal Family
The Swedish Royal Family since 1818 consists of a number of persons in the Swedish Royal House of Bernadotte, closely related to the King of Sweden. They are entitled to royal titles and style , and some perform official engagements and ceremonial duties of state...
, and was the tutor of the Swedish princes Oscar and Eugen
Prince Eugén, Duke of Närke
Prince Eugen Napoleon Nicolaus of Sweden and Norway, Duke of Närke was the youngest son of King Oscar II of Sweden and Norway....
during their stay at the University of Christiania in the 1880s.
Nielsen was chairman of the Norwegian Historical Association
Norwegian Historical Association
The Norwegian Historical Association is a Norwegian historical organization.It was founded in 1869 by Michael Birkeland and Ludvig Ludvigsen Daae. Its purpose was to publish the academic journal Historisk Tidsskrift, which it commenced in 1871...
, and edited the journal Historisk Tidsskrift
Historisk Tidsskrift (Norway)
The Historisk Tidsskrift is a Norwegian history journal. It was established in 1871 by Ludvig Ludvigsen Daae and Michael Birkeland. It is published quarterly by the Editing Norwegian Historical Association, and until 1955 the editor-in-chief was identical with the chairman of that organization....
from 1903 to 1912. Together with Ludvig Ludvigsen Daae
Ludvig Ludvigsen Daae
Ludvig Ludvigsen Daae was a Norwegian historian. He was born in Aremark.Daae was assigned as a professor at the University of Kristiania for more than thirty years, from 1876 to 1910. He published a large number of scientific works, and was also a frequent contributor to newspapers. In 1899 he...
he co-edited the journal Vidar 1887–89. Nielsen was a board member of the Norwegian Trekking Association from 1879 and Chairman 1890–1908. In 1879 he released the travel guide Reisehaandbog over Norge
Reisehaandbog over Norge
Reisehaandbog over Norge is a Norwegian travel guide book first published in 1879 by Yngvar Nielsen. It was re-issued in twelve different editions between 1879 and 1915. The guide book became quite popular, and played an important role in the development of tourism in Norway...
, popularly called Yngvar, which appeared in 12 editions until 1915 and came to play an important role in the spread of tourism. His guide book
Guide book
A guide book is a book for tourists or travelers that provides details about a geographic location, tourist destination, or itinerary. It is the written equivalent of a tour guide...
s were published in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
.
Probably Nielsen's most important work as an historian was Lensgreve Johan Caspar Herman Wedel Jarlsberg (three volumes, 1901–1902), his biography of Johan Caspar 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...
(1779–1840). Wedel-Jarlsberg played an active role in the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll
Eidsvoll
is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the Romerike traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Sundet.-Name:...
in 1814 and was the first native Norwegian to hold the post of Governor of Norway during the union with Sweden.
Personal life
In October 1870, he married Karen Anne Juliane Hedvig Wedel-JarlsbergWedel-Jarlsberg
Wedel-Jarlsberg is a Danish and Norwegian noble family. It is also a branch of the family von Wedel, which comes from Pomerania, Germany...
(1847–1927), the daughter of Peder Anker Count Wedel-Jarlsberg (1909–1893). Nielsen was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
from 1875 and 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...
from 1897. He received Reward Medal from King Oscar II in 1882, was knighted in the Order of St. Olav in 1894 and received the Commander Cross 1911. He was knighted by the Swedish Nordstjärneorden
Order of the Polar Star
The Order of the Polar Star is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim....
and owner of several other foreign orders.
Selected works
- En Christianiensers Erindringer (1910)
- Under Oscar IIs Regjering (1912)
- Fra Johan Sverdrups Dage (1913)
- Da Unionen skulde briste (1915)