Christian August Selmer

Christian Selmer
MP
2nd Prime Minister of Norway in Christiania
In office
1880–1884
Monarch Oscar II
Preceded by Frederik Stang
Succeeded by Christian Homann Schweigaard
Personal details
Born Christian August Selmer
(1816-11-16)16 November 1816
Fredrikshald, Østfold, Norway
Died 1 November 1889(1889-11-01) (aged 72)
Bygdøy (now in Oslo)
Nationality Norwegian
Political party Conservative Party
Spouse(s) Anna Sylvia Leganger
Occupation Magistrate
Profession Attorney

Christian August Selmer (16 November 1816 – 1 September 1889) was a Norwegian lawyer and a magistrate. He served as a member of the Norwegian Parliament, Minister of Defense and Minister of Justice. He was Prime Minister of Norway between 1880 and 1884. [1]

Background

Selmer was born at Fredrikshald in Østfold, Norway and grew up in Halden. He was the son of Johan Christian Selmer (1783-1830) and Johanne Ditlevine Michea Vibe (1788-1879). Selmer studied law at the University of Christiania from 1837, achieved his legal degree in 1842. In 1842, he was magistrate in Sør-Hedmark. In 1848, he was appointed law clerk in the office of attorney P.A. Midelfart in Drammen. In 1850, he took over the firm and developed an extensive legal practice. He served as a stipendiary magistrate in Drammen from 1862 until 1874. In 1848 he married Anna Sylvia Leganger (1825–1896).

Career

Selmer served as deputy to Parliament for Drammen from 1871 until 1873 and permanent representative from 1874 until 1876. In 1874 joined the cabinet of Prime Minister Frederik Stang. Following the surprising resignation of Frederik Stang as Prime Minister in September 1880, King Oscar II of Sweden had Selmer in mind as Norwegian Prime Minister. Selmer's record as Prime Minister was characterized by conflict over whether members of the cabinet were required to appear in Parliament to answer questions. He influenced King Oscar II to reject efforts at a compromise, setting the stage for impeachment proceedings. In April 1883 the members of the lower house (Odelsting) decided to impeach the members of the Selmer cabinet. Selmer was subsequently convicted under articles of impeachment and resigned as Prime Minister on March 1, 1884. [2][3]

Subsequently, Selmer became acting General Auditor (Generalauditør) of the Royal Norwegian Army and Royal Norwegian Navy, He held this office until his death at Bygdøy in Aker during September 1889. He was buried at Vår Frelsers gravlund in Kristiania.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Knut Dørum. "Christian Selmer". Store norske leksikon. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  2. ↑ Paul Thyness. "Christian Selmer, Jurist, Politiker". Norsk biografisk leksikon. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  3. ↑ Eirik Holmøyvik. "Odelstinget". Store norske leksikon. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  4. ↑ Jacob Børresen. "Generalauditør". Store norske leksikon. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
Political offices
Preceded by
Frederik Stang		 Prime Minister of Norway
1880–1884		 Succeeded by
Christian Homann Schweigaard
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