Sven Adolf Hedlund
Encyclopedia
Sven Adolf Hedlund also known as S. A. Hedlund, was a Swedish
newspaper publisher and politician.
Sven Adolf Hedlund was born on the island of Eldgarn (now in Ekerö Municipality
) in Mälaren
, Stockholm County
, Sweden, as the son of the farmer Carl Adolf Hedlund and his wife Regina (née
Björner). He earned a B.A.
in law from Uppsala University
. In 1847 he was employed at the Swedish Ministry of Education
and at the Swedish National Library in Stockholm
. In the same year he also became he a coworker for the newspapers Hermoder and Dagligt Allehanda. In 1849 he became managing editor of Örebro Tidning
. In 1851 he joined the editorial staff of Sweden's largest newspaper Aftonbladet
. In 1852 he became managing editor of Göteborgs Handels- och Sjöfartstidning
, a position he kept until his death. As managing editor of Göteborgs Handels- och Sjöfartstidning he became a major figure in Swedish press. He was a close friend of the author and publisher Viktor Rydberg
.
Hedlund was elected as a Member of Parliament
, representing Gothenburg Municipality
in the lower house from 1867 to 1869 and from 1879 to 1883. He later represented Gothenburg and Bohus County
in the upper house from 1875 to 1876, and Kristianstad County
from 1886 to 1889.
During his first period in the parliament Hedlund opposed the agrarian Lantmanna Party
, which put him in opposition to the liberal government of Prime Minister
Louis De Geer. Although he later decided to side with the party he never became a devoted party member. Both as a publisher and politician, Hedlund was a prominent proponent of liberal reforms. He was a strong proponent of political liberties such as freedom of speech
, freedom of religion
and free trade
. He also supported the Swedish representative reform of 1866, in which the old Estates Assembly
was replaced with a bicameral
parliament.
Hedlund was also active as a local politician and served in the Gothenburg Municipal Council for over thirty years. As such he contributed to the reforms and establishment of many local institutions, particularly in the educational system. He was the de facto founder of the Gothenburg Museum in 1961 and the most zealous proponent behind the establishment of the University of Gothenburg (Göteborgs högskola) in 1887.
In 1860, Hedlund became a member of the Royal Society of Sciences and Letters in Gothenburg
. In 1895, the Gothenburg Museum made a medal of him as the museum's "founder and strong promoter".
After suffering apoplectic stroke
in 1889, Hedlund retired from his publishing works and public duties. He died in his home in Gothenburg on 16 September 1900. His funerary urn is located at Viktor Rydberg's Mausoleum at Östra kyrkogården
in Gothenburg.
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....
newspaper publisher and politician.
Sven Adolf Hedlund was born on the island of Eldgarn (now in Ekerö Municipality
Ekerö Municipality
Ekerö Municipality is a municipality in Stockholm County in east central Sweden. The name comes from the island Ekerö, and literally means "Oak Island". Its seat is located in the town of Ekerö....
) in Mälaren
Mälaren
Lake Mälaren is the third-largest lake in Sweden, after Lakes Vänern and Vättern. Its area is 1,140 km² and its greatest depth is 64 m. Mälaren spans 120 kilometers from east to west...
, Stockholm County
Stockholm County
Stockholm County is a county or län on the Baltic sea coast of Sweden. It borders Uppsala County and Södermanland County. It also borders Mälaren and the Baltic Sea. The city of Stockholm is the capital of Sweden. Stockholm County is divided by the historic provinces of Uppland and Södermanland...
, Sweden, as the son of the farmer Carl Adolf Hedlund and his wife Regina (née
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Björner). He earned a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in law from 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...
. In 1847 he was employed at the Swedish Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education and Research (Sweden)
The Ministry of Education and Research is a government ministry in Sweden responsible for matters relating to schools, universities, colleges, and research.Before 1968 the ministry were called the Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs....
and at the Swedish National Library 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 the same year he also became he a coworker for the newspapers Hermoder and Dagligt Allehanda. In 1849 he became managing editor of Örebro Tidning
Nerikes Allehanda
- External links :* *...
. In 1851 he joined the editorial staff of Sweden's largest newspaper Aftonbladet
Aftonbladet
Aftonbladet is a Swedish tabloid founded by Lars Johan Hierta in 1830 during the modernization of Sweden. It is one of the larger daily newspapers in the Nordic countries. Aftonbladet is owned by the Swedish Trade Union Confederation and Norwegian media group Schibsted, and its editorial page...
. In 1852 he became managing editor of Göteborgs Handels- och Sjöfartstidning
Göteborgs Handels- och Sjöfartstidning
Göteborgs Handels- och Sjöfartstidning was a daily newspaper published in Gothenburg, Sweden, from 1832 to 1973. It was founded in 1832 by publisher Magnus Prytz and had a liberal alignment from the later part of the 19th century....
, a position he kept until his death. As managing editor of Göteborgs Handels- och Sjöfartstidning he became a major figure in Swedish press. He was a close friend of the author and publisher Viktor Rydberg
Viktor Rydberg
Abraham Viktor Rydberg was a Swedish writer and a member of the Swedish Academy, 1877-1895...
.
Hedlund was elected as a Member of Parliament
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...
, representing Gothenburg Municipality
Gothenburg Municipality
Gothenburg Municipality is a municipality in Västra Götaland County in western Sweden. Its seat is located in the city of Gothenburg....
in the lower house from 1867 to 1869 and from 1879 to 1883. He later represented Gothenburg and Bohus County
Gothenburg and Bohus County
The County of Gothenburg and Bohus, or Göteborgs och Bohus län, was a county of Sweden until December 31, 1998 when it was merged with the counties of Skaraborg and Älvsborg to form the county of Västra Götaland....
in the upper house from 1875 to 1876, and Kristianstad County
Kristianstad County
Kristianstad County was a county of Sweden from 1719 to 1 January 1997 when it was merged with Malmöhus County to form Skåne County.The seat of residence for the Governor was in Kristianstad.- List of Governors :...
from 1886 to 1889.
During his first period in the parliament Hedlund opposed the agrarian Lantmanna Party
Lantmanna Party
Lantmanna Party was a political party in Sweden, essentially a fraction in the parliament which existed from 1867 to 1912 ....
, which put him in opposition to the liberal government of Prime Minister
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...
Louis De Geer. Although he later decided to side with the party he never became a devoted party member. Both as a publisher and politician, Hedlund was a prominent proponent of liberal reforms. He was a strong proponent of political liberties such as freedom of speech
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
, freedom of religion
Freedom of religion
Freedom of religion is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any...
and free trade
Free trade
Under a free trade policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. 'Free' trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services among trading countries are determined by price strategies that may differ from...
. He also supported the Swedish representative reform of 1866, in which the old Estates Assembly
Riksdag of the Estates
The Riksdag of the Estates , was the name used for the Estates of the Swedish realm when they were assembled. Until its dissolution in 1866, the institution was the highest authority in Sweden next to the King...
was replaced with a bicameral
Bicameralism
In the government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. Thus, a bicameral parliament or bicameral legislature is a legislature which consists of two chambers or houses....
parliament.
Hedlund was also active as a local politician and served in the Gothenburg Municipal Council for over thirty years. As such he contributed to the reforms and establishment of many local institutions, particularly in the educational system. He was the de facto founder of the Gothenburg Museum in 1961 and the most zealous proponent behind the establishment of the University of Gothenburg (Göteborgs högskola) in 1887.
In 1860, Hedlund became a member of the Royal Society of Sciences and Letters in Gothenburg
Royal Society of Sciences and Letters in Gothenburg
The Royal Society of Sciences and Letters in Gothenburg or Kungl. Vetenskaps- och Vitterhetssamhället i Göteborg is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden. It was founded in the 1760s in Gothenburg, and given Royal Charter in 1778 by Gustav III of Sweden....
. In 1895, the Gothenburg Museum made a medal of him as the museum's "founder and strong promoter".
After suffering apoplectic stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in 1889, Hedlund retired from his publishing works and public duties. He died in his home in Gothenburg on 16 September 1900. His funerary urn is located at Viktor Rydberg's Mausoleum at Östra kyrkogården
Östra kyrkogården, Gothenburg
Östra kyrkogården is a cemetery in Gothenburg, Sweden. It is located in the parish of Örgryte, in the Diocese of Gothenburg. With its area of 25.3 hectares, and its nearly 18,000 graves, it is the third largest graveyard in the city. Including the urns, it is estimated to be the resting place of...
in Gothenburg.