Ole Jacob Broch
Encyclopedia
Ole Jacob Broch was a Norwegian
mathematician, physicist, economist and politician. Broch was born in Fredrikstad
, the son of war commissary Johan Jørgen Broch (1791–1860) and Jensine Laurentze Bentzen (1790–1877). He showed a talent for mathematics at an early age, and after studies in Christiania (today's Oslo
), he travelled abroad. Through studies in Paris
, Berlin
and Königsberg
, he developed an interest also for optics
and statistics
.
After returning to Norway, he worked with his friend and colleague Hartvig Nissen
to found the school Hartvig Nissens skole in 1843, which were to have an emphasis on natural sciences and modern languages. After finishing his doctorate in 1847, he returned to a position at the university that he had resigned to work with Nissen. He also taught at the Military Academy
, and in 1847 he founded the insurance company Gjensidige
(under the name "Christiania almindelige, gjensidige Forsørgelsesanstalt"), which was Scandinavia
's first life insurance
company.
Broch entered politics as a local politician in Christiania, and in the period 1862–69 he represented the city in parliament. In 1869, he was appointed Minister of the Navy in the first cabinet of Frederik Stang
. After serving as a member of the Council of State Division in Stockholm
in 1871–72, he returned as Minister of the Navy briefly in 1872. He resigned over differences with his colleagues about government ministers' access to the parliament. After this his attention turned to international tasks. In 1879 he became a member, and in 1883 director of, the International Bureau of Weights and Measures
in Sèvres
, France. This work took up much of the remainder of Broch's life, but in 1884 he was recalled to Norway to attempt to form a government. The constitutional crisis which caused the fall of the so-called April Ministerium of Christian Homann Schweigaard
, led to the demand for a new prime minister. Broch failed in this attempt, and returned to France, where he died a few years later.
Broch received several honours for his scientific and political work. In He was a member of the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
from 1849, and he received the Grand Cross
of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1879. Internationally, he was created grand officer of the French Légion d'honneur
, and Commander Grand Cross of the Swedish
Order of the Polar Star
.
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...
mathematician, physicist, economist and politician. Broch was born in Fredrikstad
Fredrikstad
is a city and municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Fredrikstad....
, the son of war commissary Johan Jørgen Broch (1791–1860) and Jensine Laurentze Bentzen (1790–1877). He showed a talent for mathematics at an early age, and after studies in Christiania (today's Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
), he travelled abroad. Through studies in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and Königsberg
Königsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
, he developed an interest also for optics
Optics
Optics is the branch of physics which involves the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. Optics usually describes the behavior of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light...
and statistics
Statistics
Statistics is the study of the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of data. It deals with all aspects of this, including the planning of data collection in terms of the design of surveys and experiments....
.
After returning to Norway, he worked with his friend and colleague Hartvig Nissen
Hartvig Nissen
Hartvig Nissen was a Norwegian philologist and educator. He founded Nissens Pigeskole, a school specifically for girls, in Oslo in 1849. In 1955 the school was also opened for boys and in 1963 the name changed to Hartvig Nissens Skole....
to found the school Hartvig Nissens skole in 1843, which were to have an emphasis on natural sciences and modern languages. After finishing his doctorate in 1847, he returned to a position at the university that he had resigned to work with Nissen. He also taught at the Military Academy
Norwegian Military Academy
The Norwegian Army Academy was established in 1750. It is the oldest university-level educational institution in Norway, and one of the oldest active military academies in the world. Krigsskolen primarily educates officers for the Norwegian Army. There are separate academies for the Royal...
, and in 1847 he founded the insurance company Gjensidige
Gjensidige
Gjensidige Forsikring ASA is a Norwegian insurance company. Though the company has roots back to 1689 when the fire treasury at Nes was founded, Gjensidige in its present form was founded in 2003 when the insurance division of Gjensidige NOR was not made part of its merger with Den norske Bank...
(under the name "Christiania almindelige, gjensidige Forsørgelsesanstalt"), which was Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
's first life insurance
Life insurance
Life insurance is a contract between an insurance policy holder and an insurer, where the insurer promises to pay a designated beneficiary a sum of money upon the death of the insured person. Depending on the contract, other events such as terminal illness or critical illness may also trigger...
company.
Broch entered politics as a local politician in Christiania, and in the period 1862–69 he represented the city in parliament. In 1869, he was appointed Minister of the Navy in the first cabinet of Frederik Stang
Frederik Stang
Frederik Stang was a Norwegian lawyer, public servant, and politician who served as Norway's first prime minister....
. After serving as a member of the Council of State Division 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...
in 1871–72, he returned as Minister of the Navy briefly in 1872. He resigned over differences with his colleagues about government ministers' access to the parliament. After this his attention turned to international tasks. In 1879 he became a member, and in 1883 director of, the International Bureau of Weights and Measures
International Bureau of Weights and Measures
The International Bureau of Weights and Measures , is an international standards organisation, one of three such organisations established to maintain the International System of Units under the terms of the Metre Convention...
in Sèvres
Sèvres
Sèvres is a commune in the southwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris.The town is known for its porcelain manufacture, the Manufacture nationale de Sèvres, making the famous Sèvres porcelain, as well as being the location of the International Bureau of Weights...
, France. This work took up much of the remainder of Broch's life, but in 1884 he was recalled to Norway to attempt to form a government. The constitutional crisis which caused the fall of the so-called April Ministerium of Christian Homann Schweigaard
Christian Homann Schweigaard
Christian Homann Schweigaard was a Norwegian Supreme Court lawyer and politician . He was prime minister in "April the Ministry" in 1884...
, led to the demand for a new prime minister. Broch failed in this attempt, and returned to France, where he died a few years later.
Broch received several honours for his scientific and political work. In He was a member of the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
The Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters is a learned society based in Trondheim, Norway.-History:DKNVS was founded in 1760 by bishop of Nidaros Johan Ernst Gunnerus, headmaster at the Trondheim Cathedral School Gerhard Schøning and Councillor of State Peter Frederik Suhm under the name...
from 1849, and he received the Grand Cross
Grand Cross
The phrase Grand Cross is used to denote the highest grade in many orders of knighthood. Sometimes the holders of the highest grade are referred to "knights grand cross" or just "grand crosses"; in other cases the actual insignia itself is called "the grand cross".Alternatively, in some other...
of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1879. Internationally, he was created grand officer of the French Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
, and Commander Grand Cross of the Swedish
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....
Order of the Polar Star
Order of the Polar Star
The Order of the Polar Star is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim....
.