Christian Adolph Diriks

Christian Adolph Diriks
Minister of Education and Church Affairs
In office
16 September 1825 – 10 November 1836
Prime MinisterM. Sommerhielm
S. Løvenskiold
Preceded byPoul C. Holst
Succeeded byOluf Borch de Schouboe
Minister of Justice
In office
4 March 1818 – 16 September 1825
Prime MinisterPeder Anker
M. Sommerhielm
Preceded byChristian Krohg
Succeeded byPoul C. Holst
In office
15 May 1817 – 15 October 1817
Prime MinisterPeder Anker
Preceded byM. Sommerhielm
Succeeded byChristian Krohg
In office
15 June 1815 – 15 September 1816
Prime MinisterPeder Anker
Preceded byM. Sommerhielm
Succeeded byM. Sommerhielm
Personal details
Born(1775-11-01)1 November 1775
Copenhagen, Denmark-Norway
Died16 December 1837(1837-12-16) (aged 62)
Christiania, United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway
SpouseMaren Cathrine Tax
Children9
OccupationUniversity of Copenhagen
Assessor in Kristiansand

Christian Adolph Diriks (1 November 1775 – 16 December 1837) was a Norwegian lawyer and statesman. He served as a representative at the Norwegian Constitutional Assembly in 1814.[1][2]

Biography[edit]

Christian Adolph Diriks was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. He was the son of maritime captain Boye Boyesen Dyriks (1744–80) and Marie Elisabeth Stoppel (d. 1797).[3] After studying law at the University of Copenhagen, he earned his cand. jur. in 1795. He worked for some years in the city court of Copenhagen. In 1806, Diriks was appointed Assessor in Kristiansand. In 1812, he was made Director of the Justice Court (Justisråd) for Laurvig (now Larvik). Diriks was Magistrate in Laurvig and Judge from 1812 to 1815.[4]

It was from Laurvig that he was elected to the Constitutional Assembly. As the legal secretary of the Constitutional Committee, he played an important part in shaping the language of the Norwegian Constitution.[3] Diriks was the Assembly's resident expert on foreign constitutions, and emphasized civil liberties. He was responsible for the inclusion of §100, concerning freedom of speech, and §102, guarding against unreasonable searches and seizures.[3][5] He was later made president of the Assembly, with responsibility for passing the Constitution.[3]

Shortly after the dissolution of the Assembly, Diriks was appointed professor of law at the newly founded Royal Frederick University (today's University of Oslo), but continuing government responsibilities prevented him from taking up the position.[3] Among the positions he held were Minister of the Police and Minister of Justice from 1814 to 1818, and Minister of Education and Church Affairs from 1825 to 1836.[6] He did not enjoy the support of Count Wedel-Jarlsberg, however and when Wedel-Jarlsberg was appointed Governor-general of Norway in 1836, Diriks was forced to retire.[3] [7]

Personal life[edit]

Christian Adolph Diriks was married to Maren Cathrine Tax (1772-1848). They were the parents of nine children including Norwegian government minister Christian Ludvig Diriks and Norwegian maritime officer Carl Frederik Diriks. Christian Adolph Diriks was also the grandfather of the artist Edvard Diriks.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Christian Adolph Diriks – Larvik bys eidsvollsmann (Larvik museum)[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ Christian Adolph Diriks (Grunnlovsjubileet) Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b c d e f Bratberg, Terje. "Christian Adolph Diriks". In Helle, Knut (ed.). Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  4. ^ Henriksen, Petter (ed.). "Christian Adolph Diriks". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  5. ^ See the first and fourth amendments to the United States Constitution.
  6. ^ "First Wedel Government". Government.no. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  7. ^ Christian Adolph Diriks (Stortingsaktivitet/Statsrådsaktivitet)
  8. ^ Christian Adolph Diriks (lokalhistoriewiki.no)

External links[edit]

Related Reading[edit]

  • Holme Jørn (2014) De kom fra alle kanter - Eidsvollsmennene og deres hus (Oslo: Cappelen Damm) ISBN 978-82-02-44564-5
  • Weidling, Tor (2000) Eneveldets menn i Norge: Sivile sentralorganer og embetsmenn 1660–1814 (Oslo: Riksarkivaren) ISBN 82-548-0065-0
Political offices
Preceded by President of the Storting
1814 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Christian_Adolph_Diriks&oldid=1157217398"