Herman Madsen

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 Deuntzer Cabinet 1901–1905.

Herman Madsen
Minister of War
In office
24 July 1901 – 14 January 1905
MonarchChristian IX
Prime MinisterJohan Henrik Deuntzer
Preceded byJohan Gustav Frederik Schnack
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Personal details
Born
Vilhelm Herman Oluf Madsen

(1844-04-11)11 April 1844
Copenhagen, Denmark
Died14 June 1917(1917-06-14) (aged 73)
Frederiksberg
Resting placeGarrison Cemetery
Political partyVenstre Reform Party
SpouseAlbertine Henriette Petersen
ChildrenThorvald Madsen
Parent(s)Jeppe Madsen (father)
Johanne Christine Becker (mother)
Military service
Allegiance Denmark
Branch/service Royal Danish Army
Years of service1859–1905
RankGeneral
Battles/warsSecond War of Schleswig

Career

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 Minister of War in the Cabinet of J. H. 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.

Personal life

Madsen was the father of the physician Thorvald Madsen. 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 978-1469750019.

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
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