Jonas Rein

Jonas Rein

Jonas Rein (30 January 1760 – 21 November 1821) was a Norwegian priest, poet and member of the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll that wrote the Constitution of Norway on 17 May 1814.

Career

He was born in Øksendal as the son of priest Ole Rein (1729–1792) and his wife Margretha Hansdatter Ross. She died two weeks after Jonas' birth. In 1763 the family moved to Jevnaker, where his father was hired as vicar. Rein took his examen artium in 1777, and studied at the University of Copenhagen. He started studying theology, but soon switched to literature and philosophy. He graduated in 1780. While a student in Copenhagen, he was a member of the Norwegian Society (Det Norske Selskab), a literary society for Norwegian students in the city. Among his personal friends were Johan Herman Wessel and Johan Vibe (wrong Johan Vibe, older person with same name, is referenced here).[1] The members of the Norwegian Society came to play a central role in the wakening of Norwegian patriotic awareness at the close of the eighteenth century.

In 1780 Rein returned to Norway, working mostly as a private tutor. He debuted as a playwright, but the play did not reach the stage. In 1787 he returned to Denmark to seek a post as a civil servant. After one rejection, he took the cand.philol. degree in 1789. He was appointed as vicar of northern Kautokeino in 1791, but never assumed office; instead he chose to become curate in Skjeberg in 1792. He left in 1799, and in 1800 he became vicar in Eidanger and Brevik. From 1808 he was the vicar of Nykirken in Bergen.[1]

In the meantime Rein had developed into a recognized poet. He published the poetry collections Samlede Digte (two volumes, 1802) and Nyeste Digte (1810). He was also a renowned speaker. In 1814 he was elected for the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll that wrote the Constitution of Norway. He distinguished himself as Norwegian patriot, and held animosity towards Sweden.[1] The Constituent Assembly elected Crown Prince Christian Frederick of Denmark as King of Norway, but after the Swedish campaign against Norway during the summer, Norway fell into Swedish hands with Charles III John as King, although in a loose personal union. Rein's anti-Swedish sentiments might have cost him the position of Bishop of Bergen, which became vacant in 1816. In 1817 he co-founded the patriotic magazine Den norske Tilskuer together with Christian Magnus Falsen and Herman Foss.[1]

Personal life

Rein was married twice. In December 1791 in Eiker he married Anna Cathrine Arbo (1756–1794),[1] a grandaunt of painter Peter Nicolai Arbo.[2] In February 1796 in Berg he married Fredrikke Bergersen (1779–1856). He had six daughters. He died in November 1821 in Bergen, and was buried at Nykirkegården.[1]

Legacy

Memorial for Jonas Rein on the Nykirken wall

At Nykirken one finds a memorial that is decorated every 17 May by the commander of the Nordnæs Bataillon in commemoration of Rein's service to Norway. Also, in 1882 a street at Nygård in Bergen was named after him.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Noreng, Harald (2003). "Jonas Rein". In Helle, Knut. Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian) 7. Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  2. ↑ Henriksen, Petter, ed. (2007). "Arbo". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 9 April 2009.

External links

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