Ernst Trygger
Encyclopedia
Ernst Trygger was a Swedish
jurist
professor
and conservative
politician
. He served as Prime Minister of Sweden
from 1923 to 1924. He also served as Minister for Foreign Affairs
from 1928 to 1930 in the government of Arvid Lindman
. He was a member of the first chamber of the Swedish Riksdag
from 1898 to 1937, and also leader of the conservatives in that chamber from 1913 to 1933.
in Stockholm
, the Swedish capital. His father was military officer Alfred Trygger. Young Ernst made an astonishing career at Uppsala University
, where he became Professor of Law in 1889.
In 1891, Ernst Trygger married Signe Söderström, with whom he went on to have three children. In 1914 they had a large private villa built in Diplomatstaden
, Stockholm, now home to the Swedish Bar Association
.
After being elected into the first chamber of the Riksdag, Trygger gained a reputation as a good debater with deeply conservative values. He was a member of the committee of 1895-98 that was formed to revise the terms of the union
with Norway
. In 1909, Trygger became leader of a conservative group in the first chamber. When the rightist wings joined together in 1913 to form the National party of the first chamber, Trygger became the leader of a united rightist force in Swedish politics and as such he opposed the new influences of democracy and parliamentarism in the 1910s. His rival as conservative leader was Arvid Lindman
, the main character in the more moderately conservative rightist party of the second chamber of the Parliament of Sweden
.
At the time of king Gustav V's last power demonstration during the "courtyard crisis" of 1914, Ernst Trygger was secretly a royal advisor. However, after the constitutional reforms leading to equal suffrage, (first applied in 1921) Trygger accepted the new, more democratic, political landscape.
, the world's first social democrat to be voted into power, resigned in 1923, king Gustav authorized (one of few remainders of real power still in royal hands) Trygger to head the government. Trygger had had a chance to reach this position already in 1920, but this was prevented by Lindman, who rather saw an unpolitical government before an upcoming election.
The major issue during Trygger's time in office was the question of defence and alignment. Leader of a minority cabinet, Trygger tried to reach a solution with broad acceptance through "intelligent adjustment" ("intelligent anpassning"). This failed due to lack of support from both the social democrats and the liberals. In the 1924 elections the support of the Right increased, nonetheless it was Branting who got to form cabinet, after even bigger electional gains for the social democrats. Another reason in Branting's favour was the likelihood of a solution to the defence issue supported by both liberals and social democrats.
The confidence in Trygger's cabinet in international issues had also been somewhat damaged after an incident in the autumn of 1923. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Carl Hederstierna, had openly during a speech before leading Swedish journalists declared his support for an alliance with Finland
in the event of any Russo-Finnish dispute. This damaged Russo-Swedish relations at a sensitive point when trade negotiations were about to be opened and fundamentally opposed the tacit principle of Swedish non-alignment. Hederstierna was swiftly replaced with count Erik Marks von Würtemberg
.
Ernst Trygger died in 1943, at the age of 85, from complications after having broken his leg.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
and conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He served as Prime Minister of Sweden
Prime Minister of Sweden
The Prime Minister is the head of government in the Kingdom of Sweden. Before the creation of the office of a Prime Minister in 1876, Sweden did not have a head of government separate from its head of state, namely the King, in whom the executive authority was vested...
from 1923 to 1924. He also served as Minister for Foreign Affairs
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Sweden)
The Minister for Foreign Affairs is the foreign minister of Sweden and the head of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.The office was instituted in 1809 as a result of the constitutional Instrument of Government promulgated in the same year. Until 1876 the office was called Prime Minister for Foreign...
from 1928 to 1930 in the government of Arvid Lindman
Arvid Lindman
Salomon Arvid Achates Lindman was a Swedish Rear Admiral, Industrialist and conservative politician...
. He was a member of the first chamber of the Swedish Riksdag
Parliament of Sweden
The Riksdag is the national legislative assembly of Sweden. The riksdag is a unicameral assembly with 349 members , who are elected on a proportional basis to serve fixed terms of four years...
from 1898 to 1937, and also leader of the conservatives in that chamber from 1913 to 1933.
Biography
Ernst Trygger was born on the island of SkeppsholmenSkeppsholmen
Skeppsholmen is one of the islands of Stockholm. It is connected with Blasieholmen and Kastellholmen by bridges. Positioned strategically at the Baltic Sea entrance to Stockholm, it has traditionally been the location of several military buildings...
in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, the Swedish capital. His father was military officer Alfred Trygger. Young Ernst made an astonishing career at Uppsala University
Uppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
, where he became Professor of Law in 1889.
In 1891, Ernst Trygger married Signe Söderström, with whom he went on to have three children. In 1914 they had a large private villa built in Diplomatstaden
Diplomatstaden
Diplomatstaden is a neighbourhood in the Östermalm district in central Stockholm, Sweden.Diplomatstaden encompasses the area facing the Djurgårdsbrunnsviken bay which is located south of the eastern-most part of Strandvägen...
, Stockholm, now home to the Swedish Bar Association
Swedish Bar Association
The Swedish Bar Association or Sveriges advokatsamfund is an organisation for Swedish members of the Bar practicing law under the title of advokat , a title which is protected by law and reserved for members of the Association....
.
After being elected into the first chamber of the Riksdag, Trygger gained a reputation as a good debater with deeply conservative values. He was a member of the committee of 1895-98 that was formed to revise the terms of the union
Political union
A political union is a type of state which is composed of or created out of smaller states. Unlike a personal union, the individual states share a common government and the union is recognized internationally as a single political entity...
with Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. In 1909, Trygger became leader of a conservative group in the first chamber. When the rightist wings joined together in 1913 to form the National party of the first chamber, Trygger became the leader of a united rightist force in Swedish politics and as such he opposed the new influences of democracy and parliamentarism in the 1910s. His rival as conservative leader was Arvid Lindman
Arvid Lindman
Salomon Arvid Achates Lindman was a Swedish Rear Admiral, Industrialist and conservative politician...
, the main character in the more moderately conservative rightist party of the second chamber of the Parliament of Sweden
Parliament of Sweden
The Riksdag is the national legislative assembly of Sweden. The riksdag is a unicameral assembly with 349 members , who are elected on a proportional basis to serve fixed terms of four years...
.
At the time of king Gustav V's last power demonstration during the "courtyard crisis" of 1914, Ernst Trygger was secretly a royal advisor. However, after the constitutional reforms leading to equal suffrage, (first applied in 1921) Trygger accepted the new, more democratic, political landscape.
Prime minister
When the cabinet of Hjalmar BrantingHjalmar Branting
was a Swedish politician. He was the leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party , and Prime Minister during three separate periods . When Branting came to power in 1920, he was the first Social Democratic Prime Minister of Sweden...
, the world's first social democrat to be voted into power, resigned in 1923, king Gustav authorized (one of few remainders of real power still in royal hands) Trygger to head the government. Trygger had had a chance to reach this position already in 1920, but this was prevented by Lindman, who rather saw an unpolitical government before an upcoming election.
The major issue during Trygger's time in office was the question of defence and alignment. Leader of a minority cabinet, Trygger tried to reach a solution with broad acceptance through "intelligent adjustment" ("intelligent anpassning"). This failed due to lack of support from both the social democrats and the liberals. In the 1924 elections the support of the Right increased, nonetheless it was Branting who got to form cabinet, after even bigger electional gains for the social democrats. Another reason in Branting's favour was the likelihood of a solution to the defence issue supported by both liberals and social democrats.
The confidence in Trygger's cabinet in international issues had also been somewhat damaged after an incident in the autumn of 1923. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Carl Hederstierna, had openly during a speech before leading Swedish journalists declared his support for an alliance with Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
in the event of any Russo-Finnish dispute. This damaged Russo-Swedish relations at a sensitive point when trade negotiations were about to be opened and fundamentally opposed the tacit principle of Swedish non-alignment. Hederstierna was swiftly replaced with count Erik Marks von Würtemberg
Erik Marks von Würtemberg
Erik Teodor Marks von Würtemberg was a Swedish friherre, jurist, and politician. He served as Foreign Minister of Sweden 1923-24 representing the General Electoral Union....
.
Later life
After having served as Minister for Foreign Affairs in the cabinet of Lindman 1928-30, Trygger cut down on his political involvement and concentrated on his academic commissions. He renewed the education of Law at Uppsala university and was known as a brilliant lecturer.Ernst Trygger died in 1943, at the age of 85, from complications after having broken his leg.