Jens Christian Christensen

Jens Christian Christensen (21 November 1856 – 19 December 1930), most often called J. C. Christensen with the 'J' pronounced as an 'I', was a Danish politician normally considered the most important Danish political figure between circa 1900 and 1920.

Born into a West Jutland peasant family and starting as a herd boy he was educated a teacher and joined politics in an early age. He was member of the Danish Liberal Party until he founded the Venstre Reform Party in 1895. During the next years he successfully and adroitely led the opposition against the last Right cabinets which resulted in the victory of parliamentarianism 1901. In the first Left cabinet of J. H. Deuntzer Christensen was Minister of Cultus and the strong man of the government introducing reforms in the village school system.

J. C. Christensen was Council President of Denmark from 1905 to 1908 as the leader of the Cabinet of J. C. Christensen I and II. During this period he introduced female suffrage in local politics and tried to solve the problem of the defense. Besides he took the first steps towards a re-conciliation with the moderate liberals excluding the radicals.

The Alberti scandal in 1908 led to his fall and weakened his position but he continued being the leader of his party participating in the second Carl Theodor Zahle cabinet 1916-1918. 1920-1922 he was minister for the last time and two years later he left politics. During his last years he supported the cultivation of the moor of Jutland.

Literature

• Dansk Biografisk Leksikon, vol. 3, Copenhagen, 1979.
• Svend Thorsen: De danske ministerier, vol. 1, Copenhagen, 1967.