Vilhelm Herman Oluf Madsen

Vilhelm Herman Oluf Madsen
War Minister of Denmark
In office
24 July 1901  14 January 1905
Monarch Christian IX
Prime Minister Johan Henrik Deuntzer
Preceded by Johan Gustav Frederik Schnack
Succeeded by Office abolished
Personal details
Born (1844-04-11)11 April 1844
Copenhagen, Denmark
Died 14 June 1917(1917-06-14) (aged 73)
Frederiksberg
Resting place Garnisons Cemetery
Nationality Danish
Political party Venstre Reform Party
Spouse(s) Albertine Henriette Petersen
Children Thorvald Madsen
Parents Jeppe Madsen (father)
Johanne Christine (mother)
Military service
Allegiance  Denmark
Service/branch Royal Danish Army
Years of service 1859 – 1905
Rank General
Battles/wars Second War of Schleswig

Vilhelm Herman Oluf Madsen (11 April 1844 – 14 June 1917), was a Danish politician, minister, army officer, businessman and inventor. He was War Minister in the Ministry Deuntzer 1901-1905. Madsen was the father of the physician Thorvald Madsen.

He began his military career in 1859 and served in the Second War of Schleswig of 1864 as a lieutenant. In 1896, at the rank of colonel, Madsen was responsible for the adoption of the Madsen machine gun by the Danish army in 1902 and widely exported. He also constructed the Madsen 20 mm anti-aircraft cannon.[1]

As War Minister of Denmark in the Cabinet of Deuntzer from 1901 to 1905 he supported the Fortification of Copenhagen and this contributed to the conflict that led to the split of the Venstre Reform Party as the left wing of the party left the party in protest to form the Radikale Venstre.

He became a general in 1903 and was elected to the Folketing in 1909. He was interested in mathematics and was the president of Danish Mathematical Society from 1903 to 1910.

References

  1. Skaarup, Harold A (2012). Shelldrake: Canadian Artillery Museums and Gun Monuments. p. 250. ISBN 1469750015.

Sources

  • Bjørn A. Nielsen, Den danske hærs rekylgeværer : system V.H.O. Madsen og J.A.N. Rasmussen, Statens Forsvarshistoriske Museum, 2008. (Forsvarshistoriske skrifter, nr. 6).
  • Article "Madsen, Vilhelm Herman Oluf" pp. 23–26 in: Dansk Biografisk Lexikon, 1. ed, vol. XI, 1897
Political offices
Preceded by
Johan Gustav Frederik Schnack
War Minister of Denmark
24 July 1901 14 January 1905
Succeeded by
Office abolished
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