Fridtjof Nansen

Fridtjof Nansen (born October 10, 1861 in Store Frøen, near Kristiania, now Oslo - died May 13, 1930 in Lysaker, outside Oslo) was a Norwegian explorer, scientist and diplomat. Nansen was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922 for his work as a League of Nations High Commissioner.

Diplomatic and political career

Before Norway's dissolution of its union with Sweden on 7 June 1905, Nansen had been a devoted republican, together with other prominent Norwegians like the authors Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson and Arne Garborg. However, after convincing argument by Sigurd Ibsen and others, Nansen changed his position (as did Bjørnson and Garborg) and was thereafter influential in convincing Prince Charles of Denmark that he should accept the position as king of Norway. Prince Charles was eventually crowned after a referendum where the Norwegians voted for a monarchy. Nansen campaigned for this result, certain it was the right thing for Norway, although the general view was that he would be elected President in an alternative republic.

Related Topics:
Dissolution of its union - 7 June - 1905 - Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson - Arne Garborg - Sigurd Ibsen - Prince Charles of Denmark

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Following Norway's independence Nansen was appointed as the Norwegian ambassador in London (1906-08) becoming a close friend of King Edward and assuring support from Britain in the campaign for an international guarantee of Norwegian territorial integrity.

Related Topics:
London - 1906 - 08 - King Edward

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In the period between the wars there was an unsuccessful effort on Nansen's behalf to make him the Prime Minister in a broad government based on all the non-socialist parties to counter the growth of Arbeiderpartiet, the Norwegian labour party. In 1925 he co-founded Fedrelandslaget (The Fatherland Society), an anti-socialist political organisation that folded at the outbreak of the Second World War.

Related Topics:
Arbeiderpartiet - 1925 - Second World War

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