Georg Prahl Harbitz
| Georg Prahl Harbitz | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Member of Parliament | |
|
In office 1836–1870 |
|
| President of the Storting | |
|
In office 1848–1869 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 June 1802 Haus |
| Died | 22 November 1889 Abbediengen, Vestre Aker |
| Nationality | Norwegian |
| Political party | Independent |
| Children |
Johannes Winding Harbitz, 7 other children |
| Profession | Vicar |
| Religion | Lutheranism |
Georg Prahl Harbitz (26 June 1802 – 22 November 1889) was a Norwegian priest and politician.
He was born in Haus to innkeeper Nils Harbitz and his wife Elisabet Christine Ibsen. His father died when Georg was eight years old, and he was eventually sent to the wealthy family Prahl in Bergen for upbringing. Here, he was inspired to undertake academic studies. He graduated as cand.theol. in 1825, and was assigned, by the Church of Norway, the post as vicar (sogneprest) in Askevold in Nordre Bergenhus Amt.
He became involved in politics, and when local government was introduced in Norway, Harbitz served as the first mayor of Askevold municipality. He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1836 and 1839, representing the constituency of Nordre Bergenhus Amt. From the start he was known as peasant-friendly, a political current which began making its mark in Parliament from 1830. He was conservative in Constitutional matters.
He left Askevold in 1839, his wife having died the same year. He was assigned the position of vicar in Slidre, in Christians Amt. While stationed here, he was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1842 and 1845. In 1847 he applied for the position as garrison priest in Christiania; however, he discovered that he was not looked kindly upon there, and returned to Christians Amt. In the meantime, Slidre had been split into Øystre and Vestre Slidre; Harbitz became vicar of Vestre Slidre. He was elected to Parliament two more times, in 1848 and 1851. During the 1848 term he was President of the Storting, together with Halvor Olaus Christensen, Hans Riddervold and Carl Valentin Falsen.
He then decided to leave Vestre Slidre for financial reasons. Reportedly, the wage was low and often delayed. Harbitz applied for the vicarship in Nøtterø, and began this tenure in 1852. Representing the constituency of Jarlsberg og Laurvigs Amt, he was elected to Parliament in 1854, 1857, 1859, 1862, 1865 and 1868. He continued to serve as President of the Storting for each of these terms. In 1864 he was the sole holder of this position, and held the principal speeches commemorating the fiftieth anniversaries of the Constitution of Norway (on 17 May) and the Union between Sweden and Norway (on 4 November).
...
Wikipedia