Johan Cappelen (1889–1947) was a Norwegian jurist and politician for the Conservative Party.
He was born in Skogn.[1] He graduated with cand.jur. degree in 1911. He worked as a deputy judge, and from 1915, attorney. He was barrister with access to work with Supreme Court from 1922.[1]
As a politician Cappelen was elected to Trondheim city council, and later served as mayor from 1931 to 1934. In 1940 he was appointed County Governor of Sør-Trøndelag. However, during the German occupation of Norway Cappelen was removed. He was a member of the resistance group Sivorg.[1] From 1943 to 1945 he was imprisoned, at Vollan, Falstad and Grini.
When the occupation ended in 1945, Cappelen was appointed Minister of Justice and the Police in the non-partisan Gerhardsen's First Cabinet. This cabinet lasted from June to November 1945, when a general election was held and the Gerhardsen's Second Cabinet assumed office. Cappelen was reinstated as County Governor of Sør-Trøndelag, and held the post until his death in 1947.[1]
| Preceded by Andreas Moe |
Mayor of Trondheim 1931–1934 |
Succeeded by Harald Pedersen |
| Preceded by Odd Sverressøn Klingenberg |
County Governor of Sør-Trøndelag 1940–1947 (deposed by Nazis 1940–1945) |
Succeeded by Ivar Skjånes |
| Preceded by Terje Wold |
Norwegian Minister of Justice and the Police June 1945–November 1945 |
Succeeded by Oscar Chr. Gundersen |