Peter Frederik Suhm
Encyclopedia
Peter Frederik Suhm was a Danish-Norwegian
historian and Councillor of State.
Suhm studied at the University of Copenhagen
in 1746-1751, and one of his teacher was Ludvig Holberg
. In 1749 he translated comedy of Plautus
and French theatrical piece.
In 1751 he traveled to Trondheim
together with the Danish historian Gerhard Schøning
, with whom he continued to collaborate over the following years. Together they produced Forbedringer til den gamle danske og norske Historie (Improvements to the old Danish-Norwegian History) in 1757. In Trondheim he married Karen Angell (1732–1788) April 19, 1752. She was the daughter and only inheritor of a wealthy Norwegian merchant Lorents Angell who had died the previous year. Karen Angells mother accepted the connection on the condition that they stayed in Trondheim for the remainder of her life. Suhm accepted, and stayed on in Trondheim, with a short interval in Copenhagen in 1755, for the next nine years, where she died and Suhm and his wife moved back to Copenhagen. The inherited wealth allowed Suhm a life devoted to the sciences and his bookcollection.
Schöning and Suhm, together with Johan Ernst Gunnerus
, founded the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
in 1760 under the name Det Trondhiemske Selskab (the Trondheim Society). From 1761 it published academic papers in a series titled Skrifter. It was the northernmost scientific society in the world.
Suhm published in 1761-1765 Trondhjemske samlinger (5 volums). In 1771 published Udsigt over videnskabernes og de skjønne kunsters tilstand i Danmark og Norge. Udtog af Danmarks, Norges og Holsteins historie (1776) was used in the 19th century as a handbook of history. In 1782-1793 he published first seven volumes of his detailed history of Denmark (Historie af Danmark).
Suhm was a chairman of the Danish Academy of Sciences
. In 1779 he became member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
.
On October 1788 he made second marriage with Christiane Becker (1764–1799), daughter of Johann Gottfried Becker (1723–1790) and Anna Christina Torm (1738–1809).
Suhm was also a book collector. His collection was comprised about 100 000 volumes. In 1775 he opened his library for the public use. In 1796 Moldenhawer
purchased his collection for the Royal Danish Library on the condition that the payment would continue in the form of an annuity for Suhm and his wife, but both died shortly after the purchase was completed.
He is buried in the crypt of the Christian's Church
in Copenhagen
.
Denmark–Norway
Denmark–Norway is the historiographical name for a former political entity consisting of the kingdoms of Denmark and Norway, including the originally Norwegian dependencies of Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands...
historian and Councillor of State.
Suhm studied at the University of Copenhagen
University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is the oldest and largest university and research institution in Denmark. Founded in 1479, it has more than 37,000 students, the majority of whom are female , and more than 7,000 employees. The university has several campuses located in and around Copenhagen, with the...
in 1746-1751, and one of his teacher was Ludvig Holberg
Ludvig Holberg
Ludvig Holberg, Baron of Holberg was a writer, essayist, philosopher, historian and playwright born in Bergen, Norway, during the time of the Dano-Norwegian double monarchy, who spent most of his adult life in Denmark. He was influenced by Humanism, the Enlightenment and the Baroque...
. In 1749 he translated comedy of Plautus
Plautus
Titus Maccius Plautus , commonly known as "Plautus", was a Roman playwright of the Old Latin period. His comedies are the earliest surviving intact works in Latin literature. He wrote Palliata comoedia, the genre devised by the innovator of Latin literature, Livius Andronicus...
and French theatrical piece.
In 1751 he traveled to Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
together with the Danish historian Gerhard Schøning
Gerhard Schøning
Gerhard Schøning was a Norwegian historian. His Reise som giennem en Deel af Norge i de Aar 1773, 1774, 1775 paa Hans Majestets Kongens Bekostning documenting travel through Trondheim, Gudbrandsdal and Hedmark, Norway in 1773–1775 has been recognized as both a historical reference and as a "minor...
, with whom he continued to collaborate over the following years. Together they produced Forbedringer til den gamle danske og norske Historie (Improvements to the old Danish-Norwegian History) in 1757. In Trondheim he married Karen Angell (1732–1788) April 19, 1752. She was the daughter and only inheritor of a wealthy Norwegian merchant Lorents Angell who had died the previous year. Karen Angells mother accepted the connection on the condition that they stayed in Trondheim for the remainder of her life. Suhm accepted, and stayed on in Trondheim, with a short interval in Copenhagen in 1755, for the next nine years, where she died and Suhm and his wife moved back to Copenhagen. The inherited wealth allowed Suhm a life devoted to the sciences and his bookcollection.
Schöning and Suhm, together with Johan Ernst Gunnerus
Johan Ernst Gunnerus
Johan Ernst Gunnerus was a Norwegian bishop and botanist. Gunnerus was born at Christiania. He was bishop of the Diocese of Nidaros from 1758 until his death and also a professor of theology at the University of Copenhagen....
, founded 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...
in 1760 under the name Det Trondhiemske Selskab (the Trondheim Society). From 1761 it published academic papers in a series titled Skrifter. It was the northernmost scientific society in the world.
Suhm published in 1761-1765 Trondhjemske samlinger (5 volums). In 1771 published Udsigt over videnskabernes og de skjønne kunsters tilstand i Danmark og Norge. Udtog af Danmarks, Norges og Holsteins historie (1776) was used in the 19th century as a handbook of history. In 1782-1793 he published first seven volumes of his detailed history of Denmark (Historie af Danmark).
Suhm was a chairman of the Danish Academy of Sciences
Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters
Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters is a Danish non-governmental science Academy, founded 13 November 1742 by permission of the King Christian VI, as a historical Collegium Antiquitatum...
. In 1779 he became member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences or Kungliga Vetenskapsakademien is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. The Academy is an independent, non-governmental scientific organization which acts to promote the sciences, primarily the natural sciences and mathematics.The Academy was founded on 2...
.
On October 1788 he made second marriage with Christiane Becker (1764–1799), daughter of Johann Gottfried Becker (1723–1790) and Anna Christina Torm (1738–1809).
Suhm was also a book collector. His collection was comprised about 100 000 volumes. In 1775 he opened his library for the public use. In 1796 Moldenhawer
Daniel Gotthilf Moldenhawer
Daniel Gotthilf Moldenhawer , was a German-Danish philologist, theologian, librarian, bibliophile, palaeographer, diplomat, and Bible translator.- Early life and education:...
purchased his collection for the Royal Danish Library on the condition that the payment would continue in the form of an annuity for Suhm and his wife, but both died shortly after the purchase was completed.
He is buried in the crypt of the Christian's Church
Christian's Church, Copenhagen
Christian's Church is a magnificent Rococo church in the Christianshavn district of Copenhagen, Denmark. Designed by Nicolai Eigtved, it was built 1754–59....
in 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...
.
Further reading
- Terje Bratberg: Artikel „Peter Frederik Suhm“. In: Norsk biografisk leksikon
- H. F. Rørdam: Artikel „Suhm, Peter Frederik“. In: Dansk biografisk Lexikon Band 16. Kopenhagen 1902. p. 558–570.