Christian August Selmer

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 the 2nd prime minister of Norway in Christiana between 1880 and 1884.[1]

Christian Selmer
MP
Christian Selmer
2nd Prime Minister of Norway in Christiania
In office
11 October 1880 – 3 April 1884
MonarchOscar II
Preceded byFrederik Stang
Succeeded byChristian H. Schweigaard
Minister of the Army
In office
13 October 1879 – 15 September 1880
Prime MinisterFrederik Stang
Preceded byAdolph F. Munthe
Succeeded byAdolph F. Munthe
In office
29 July 1874 – 21 July 1875
Prime MinisterFrederik Stang
Preceded byLorentz Segelcke
Succeeded byLorentz Segelcke
Minister of the Interior
In office
15 August 1878 – 15 August 1879
Prime MinisterFrederik Stang
Preceded byNiels Vogt
Succeeded byNiels Vogt
In office
21 July 1875 – 15 August 1876
Prime MinisterFrederik Stang
Preceded byNiels Vogt
Succeeded byNiels Vogt
Minister of Justice
In office
15 August 1877 – 15 August 1878
Prime MinisterFrederik Stang
Preceded byJohn Collett Falsen
Succeeded byJohn Collett Falsen
Minister of Auditing
In office
13 June 1879 – 13 October 1879
Prime MinisterFrederik Stang
Preceded byJacob Aall jr.
Succeeded byChristian Jensen
Personal details
Born(1816-11-16)16 November 1816
Fredrikshald, Østfold, United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway
Died1 November 1889(1889-11-01) (aged 72)
Bygdøy (now in Oslo), United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway
Political partyConservative
SpouseAnna Sylvia Leganger
ChildrenJørgen
Ida
OccupationMagistrate
ProfessionAttorney

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.
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