Hans Riddervold

Hans Riddervold ( born November 7, 1795 in Teien at Åsgårdstrand (now Horten ); † July 20, 1876 in Christiania ) was a Norwegian priest and politician.

His parents were the captain Adolf Kvernheim Riddervold (1760-1817) and his wife Bredine BOLETTE Nielsen ( 1773-1811 ). On June 23, 1822 he married Anna Maria Bull (12 January 1803-24. June 1870 ), daughter of the merchant Andreas Bull ( 1772-1838 ) and his wife Marthe Smith ( 1774-1834 ).

He was one of the key politicians from the 1830s until 1872, he resigned the office of the State Council. He was President of the Storting and directed the church and school ministry, where he set up a series of reforms, which pushed back the ecclesiastical supervision of the schools, the fabric catalog changed and educational opportunities for the general public across the country improved

Career

Ecclesiastical career

He went in 1809 to the Christiania Cathedral, 1813, the exam consisted of Arts and in 1819 the theological state exam. He was among the first who have got this exam at the University of Christiania. After that, he was the Resident Kaplan inFredrikstad. He remained there until 1832. Then he became pastor in Halden, Halden today. In 1838 he was provost in Nedre Borgesyssel After a year as pastor in Østre dead he became bishop in Trondheim. This post he held from 1843-1848.

Political career

In 1827 he was elected as a delegate of Fredrikstad in the Storting. From then on, he was until 1842 with the exception of one session, a deputy in the Storting, in 1836 a delegate of Halden. In 1830 he became Vice President of the Storting, then President of the Odelsting, then President of the Storting. 1839-1840 he was a member of the first Union Committee. On April 19, 1848, he was appointed to the State Council of Churches - school ministry. He held until 1872 this office.

Policy

Political and religious Riddervold was conservative. As Bishop of Trondheim, he refused to crown the queen Joséfine in Trondheim, as this is contrary to the Constitution and the canon law; because she was Catholic. For example, neither they, nor crowned Oscar I in Norway. He fought with all means the so-called Lammers movement 's efforts to reform the church in the 50's he looked at with skepticism and as the Storting in 1868 decided the law on municipal councils, he refused to grant permission.

School policy, he had a completely different attitude. The Act of 1860 of the elementary schools in the country was the first of its reforms. It was the first step of the parochial school to a general public school. There new subjects were introduced, and emphasis has been teaching in the mother tongue. The roving schools were pushed back in favor of schools with fixed seat and in the course of the 60 year fixed school buildings were erected in the rural communities. In 1857, the Latin stylistics was abolished at the higher schools. 1869 in addition to the Latin school, the junior high school has been introduced.

He was also active in the cultural life and promoted the new seal, as was represented by Henrik Ibsen and Bjørnson Bjørnstjerne. He campaigned for the introduction of the national holiday on May 17.

He spent his last years withdrawn in Oslo and wrote his memoirs, which, however, were only published after his death.

Honors

In 1859 he received the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav and in 1869, the highest civilian award of the country, the Borgerdådsmedaille in gold. In Oslo, the Riddervolds plass is named after him.

Comments

The article is mainly based on the Norsk biografisk leksikon. Any other information will be reported separately.