Lars Andreas Oftedahl
Encyclopedia
Lars Andreas Oftedahl (19 May 1781 – 17 March 1843) was a Norwegian priest and a member of the Norwegian Constituent Assembly
at Eidsvoll
that wrote the Constitution of Norway
on May 17th, 1814.
, his parents were Lars Larsen Oftedahl, later captain and arms manager, and Ellen Andersdatter (born Evetoft). He moved with his parents to Nyborg
, and later to Christianssand
, where he graduated as cand.theol.
in 1801. From 1809 he was vicar
at Rennesøy
, Stavanger Amt
. He became a renowned speaker, and was elected as one of three delegates from Stavanger Amt to the Eidsvoll Assembly in 1814, where he represented the unionist side. He was first deputee, representing the official class. Along with him from Stavanger Amt came merchant Christen Mølbach
and farmer Asgaut Olsen Regelstad
.
He served as a curate in Christianssand
from 1817, and dean
from 1825, and was vicar in Eker
from 1831. He served as deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament for two terms. He was also engaged in social matters such as education and poor relief. He issued a catechism
explanation in 1814, and a Latin grammar in 1923.
' diaries. Pavels describes Oftedahl's University
speech from 1813 as being "without doubt the most beautiful of them all".
Riksforsamlingen
Norwegian Constituent Assembly is the name given to the 1814 Constitutional Assembly at Eidsvoll in Norway, that voted the Norwegian Constitution and formalised the dissolution of the union with Denmark...
at Eidsvoll
Eidsvoll
is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the Romerike traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Sundet.-Name:...
that wrote the Constitution of Norway
Constitution of Norway
The Constitution of Norway was first adopted on May 16, 1814 by the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll , then signed and dated May 17...
on May 17th, 1814.
Biography
Oftedahl was born in CopenhagenCopenhagen
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...
, his parents were Lars Larsen Oftedahl, later captain and arms manager, and Ellen Andersdatter (born Evetoft). He moved with his parents to Nyborg
Nyborg
Nyborg is a city in central Denmark, located in Nyborg Municipality on the island of Funen and with a population of 16,492 . Nyborg is one of the 14 large municipalities created on 1 January 2007...
, and later to Christianssand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
, where he graduated as cand.theol.
Cand.theol.
Candidatus theologiæ , Candidata theologiæ , abbreviated cand. theol. is an academic degree with a long tradition, awarded after a six year higher education in theology in Denmark and Norway. In Norway, the title has remained after the "Quality Reform", though it is equivalent to a Master of...
in 1801. From 1809 he was vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
at Rennesøy
Rennesøy
Rennesøy is a municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. It is part of the region of Ryfylke. The administrative center is the village of Vikevåg....
, Stavanger Amt
Rogaland
is a county in Western Norway, bordering Hordaland, Telemark, Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder. It is the center of the Norwegian petroleum industry, and as a result of this, Rogaland has the lowest unemployment rate of any county in Norway, 1.1%...
. He became a renowned speaker, and was elected as one of three delegates from Stavanger Amt to the Eidsvoll Assembly in 1814, where he represented the unionist side. He was first deputee, representing the official class. Along with him from Stavanger Amt came merchant Christen Mølbach
Christen Mølbach
Christen Mølbach was a Norwegian merchant and politician. He represented Stavanger amt at the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll in 1814. He was later also a member of the Parliament of Norway.-References:...
and farmer Asgaut Olsen Regelstad
Asgaut Olsen Regelstad
Asgaut Olsen Regelstad was a Norwegian farmer and politician. He represented Stavanger amt at the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll in 1814, together with Lars Andreas Oftedahl and Christen Mølbach.-References:...
.
He served as a curate in Christianssand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
from 1817, and dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
from 1825, and was vicar in Eker
Eiker
Eiker is a traditional district in the county of Buskerud, Norway.-History:Eiker consists of the municipalities of Nedre Eiker and Øvre Eiker . The area is located in the southern part of Buskerud county....
from 1831. He served as deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament for two terms. He was also engaged in social matters such as education and poor relief. He issued a catechism
Catechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
explanation in 1814, and a Latin grammar in 1923.
Claus Pavels' diaries
Oftedahl is mentioned twice in Claus PavelsClaus Pavels
Claus Pavels was a Norwegian priest and diarist. His diaries from 1812–1822 are an important source for cultural and biographical history.-Biography:...
' diaries. Pavels describes Oftedahl's University
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
speech from 1813 as being "without doubt the most beautiful of them all".