Christen Schmidt Explained

Christen Schmidt
Bishop Of:Church of Norway
Diocese:Diocese of Oslo
Enthroned:1773
Ended:1804
Birth Date:22 February 1727
Birth Place:Kongsvinger
Nationality:Norwegian
Religion:Lutheranism
Parents:Hans Jacob Schmidt
Alethe S. Lemmich
Spouse:Petronelle Lemmich (married 1759–1798)
Ingeborg Catharina Birkenbusch (1803–1804)
Children:Frederik Schmidt
Alma Mater:University of Copenhagen

Christen Schmidt (22 February 1727 – 6 October 1804) was a Norwegian bishop.

He was born in Kongsvinger as a son of vicar Hans Jacob Schmidt and Alethe S. Lemmich. He enrolled as a student in 1745 and graduated with the cand.theol. degree in May 1748. After some years as a private tutor and a priest at sea, he was appointed as vicar of Nebbelunde, Denmark in July 1759. In September 1769 he became vicar of Asminderød and Fredensborg Palace. He became connected to the Danish Royal Court in July 1772, having been opposed to Johan Friedrich Struensee's rule. In December 1773 he became Bishop of the Diocese of Oslo. Here he was known to be orthodox.[1] He supported the death penalty in 1777.[2]

He was married twice. First to his cousin Petronelle Lemmich, from June 1759 to her death in September 1798. They had the son Frederik Schmidt, a constitutional founding father. His second marriage was to merchant's daughter Ingeborg Catharina Birkenbusch (1778–1856), from November 1803 to his own death.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Encyclopedia: Schmidt, Christen. Norsk biografisk leksikon. Aschehoug. Oslo. . Svendsen, Paulus. 1st. Kristen. Valkner. Kristen Valkner. 1954. 12. 458–459. Norwegian.
  2. Encyclopedia: 1901. Schmidt, Christen. Dansk biografisk lexikon. D.. Thrap. Daniel Smith Thrap. 15. Bricka, Carl Frederik. Gyldendalske Boghandels Forlag. 210–211. Copenhagen. Danish. 14 November 2009.