Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie

Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie

Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie (7 December 1778 – 10 October 1849) was a Norwegian constitutional father, known for being the constitutional assembly's writer.^[1][2]

Background

Born in Kristiansund, Møre and Romsdal, Wilhelm F. K. Christie spent several childhood years in Bergen. He was the son of postmaster Johan Koren Christie (1745–1823) and Anne Thue Brodtkorb (1753–1834). His family can be traced back to Andrew Davidson Christie (ca. 1620-1694), born in Montrose, Scotland, who became a citizen of Bergen in 1654. At 10 years old, he was sent to Bergen to attend Latin School. At 16 years old, he was a student in Copenhagen. In 1799 he became candidat juridicum.^[3]

Career

Statue of Wilhelm F. K. Christie at Bergen Museum

Wilhelm F. K. Christie was executive officer (kansellisekretær) and head of a government office in Copenhagen. In 1809, at 30 years old, he became a judge (sorenskriver) in Hordaland. From 1815 to 1825 he was County Governor of Hordaland.

In 1814, he was a representative for Bergen at the Norwegian Constituent Assembly. He was chosen as the secretary during the whole period. Hence he did not play a very important role in the debates. Then he participated in sending a message to Great Britain from Christian Frederik in order to win support for Norway's independence. However, this message never was answered. In October he became the president of the parliament and made an important contribution to the process of discussion the union with Sweden. He stayed a representative in the parliament until 1825.^[4]

Later years

From 1828 until his death he was a customs inspector in Bergen. He was also a member of Bergen city council from 1837 to 1841, and participated in the founding of Bergen Savings Banks, where he was chairman for several years.

Legacy

His statue now stands in front of the Bergen Museum, which he founded in 1825 and worked for more than 20 years. A statue of him by Norwegian sculptor Kristian Blystad was erected during 1989 in front of the Parliament of Norway (Stortinget) on the occasion of the Constitution's 175-year anniversary.^[5]

References

1. Tidlegare fylkesmenn (Fylkesmannen i Hordaland)
2. Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie, utdypning (Store norske leksikon)
3. Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie (Store norske leksikon)
4. Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie (Stortinget)
5. Kristian Blystad (Store norske leksikon)