Natanael Beskow

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Fredrik Natanael Beskow (March 9, 1865 - October 8, 1953) was a Swedish theologian and school headmaster, married to the children's book author Elsa Beskow. He was also active as a preacher, writer, artist, pacifist and social activist.

Beskow was born in Hallingeberg, Småland. The son of a priest, Beskow graduated from secondary school in 1883 and got a degree in theological philosophy at Uppsala University in 1884. From 1888 to 1892, he studied at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts in Stockholm. He married Elsa Beskow in 1893 (1897?) and they had six sons together. During this time he also worked as an artist, and earned a degree in practical theology in 1895. In 1896 he accepted an invitation from the previous year to become a preacher in Djursholm, which was being built at the time. Beskow never wholeheartedly agreed with the Swedish church's profession of faith, and was never ordained as a minister.

Beskow was the headmaster of the newly-established co-educational school in Djursholm from 1897 to 1909. In 1912 he founded Birkagården together with Ebba Pauli. Birkagården was the first of Sweden's so-called "settlements" (hemgård); Beskow was director of Birkagården from 1912 until 1946. He was also headmaster of the boarding school (folkhögskola) at Birkagården from 1916 to 1930, as well as honorary doctorate of theology at Lund University in 1918, and president of the Swedish Association for Christian Social Life (Förbundet för kristet samhällsliv), which he established, from 1918 to 1943.

Beskow was a radical pacifist. He was also involved with the campaign for women's suffrage in Sweden (which was granted in 1919), and with the labor unions. Beskow was often engaged in leading negotiations, and became a prominent negotiator.

A highly esteemed preacher, Beskow published a number of collections of sermons. He also made substantial contributions as a hymn writer.