Gustaf Åkerhielm
Encyclopedia
Friherre Johan Gustaf Nils Samuel Åkerhielm of Margaretelund (July 24, 1833 – April 2, 1900) was a politician
, a baron
, a landowner, member of the Riksdag
from 1859 to 1866 and from 1870 to 1900, a Minister of Finance from 1874 to 1875, a Minister for Foreign Affairs in 1889, and a Prime Minister
from 1889 to 1891.
He was married to Ulrika Gyldenstolpe in 1860, with whom he had three children.
, son to Swedish cabinet member Gustaf Fredrik Åkerhielm and his wife, Elisabeth Sophia Anker. After diplomatic service in Saint Petersburg
and Copenhagen
, he had a successful political career, where he had a long succession of different positions in the government from a Minister of Finance from 1874 to 1875. In 1889 he was appointed to the position of Minister for Foreign Affairs by Gillis Bildt, and in October of the same year, he became the Prime Minister of Sweden.
Åkerhielm sought to solve military defense issues, but his efforts were blocked because of opposition in the Lower House of the Swedish Parliament. However, he was able to remain in power due to support he had in the Upper House. In 1891, he was forced nevertheless to resign after an incautious reply to a question about defense, which was interpreted as threat against Norway
. The exact wording of his statement was unclear, but those who were present said the statement was, more or less, that "a new order for the Army will allow us to speak Swedish with Norwegians."
He died on April 2, 1900 in Stockholm.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, a baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
, a landowner, member of the 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 1859 to 1866 and from 1870 to 1900, a Minister of Finance from 1874 to 1875, a Minister for Foreign Affairs in 1889, and a Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
from 1889 to 1891.
He was married to Ulrika Gyldenstolpe in 1860, with whom he had three children.
Biography
Gustaf Åkerhielm was born in StockholmStockholm
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...
, son to Swedish cabinet member Gustaf Fredrik Åkerhielm and his wife, Elisabeth Sophia Anker. After diplomatic service in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
and Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, he had a successful political career, where he had a long succession of different positions in the government from a Minister of Finance from 1874 to 1875. In 1889 he was appointed to the position of Minister for Foreign Affairs by Gillis Bildt, and in October of the same year, he became the Prime Minister of Sweden.
Åkerhielm sought to solve military defense issues, but his efforts were blocked because of opposition in the Lower House of the Swedish Parliament. However, he was able to remain in power due to support he had in the Upper House. In 1891, he was forced nevertheless to resign after an incautious reply to a question about defense, which was interpreted as threat against 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...
. The exact wording of his statement was unclear, but those who were present said the statement was, more or less, that "a new order for the Army will allow us to speak Swedish with Norwegians."
He died on April 2, 1900 in Stockholm.