Matthias Conrad Peterson

Matthias Conrad Peterson , (born September 21, 1761 in Schleswig , † February 14, 1833 in Trondheim ) was a Norwegian businessman and journalist. He is considered a pioneer of Norwegian journalism.

His father was the shoemaker Jørgen Peterson; the mother's name is unknown. On November 3, 1790 he married Sara Johanna Dons (December 18, 1765– March 23, 1851), daughter of Major Lorentz Dons (1728–1784) and his wife Cornelia Susanne Klingenberg (1729–1823).

He grew up in poor conditions. In 1782, like many other young people in the duchy, he moved to Trondheim, where many of his countrymen had made their fortune. At first he was an employee of the merchant Falck from Jämtland ; then he worked at the trading company Alexander H. Friedlieb & Comp. and became an accountant and secretary there. In 1818 he obtained citizenship in Trondheim as a merchant and became a partner in the merchant Hans Geelmuyden.

Peterson was active in many areas of society and was an ardent supporter of Norway and Norwegian independence. He represented this attitude from 1795 to 1800 as editor of the newspaper Adresseavisen, which had existed since 1767 . The first article under his name appeared there in 1790. He later edited or supplied material to a number of other newspapers and magazines. In 1815 he became an employee of the newly founded newspaper Den lille Trondhjemske Tilskuer . As a journalist, he adapted his texts to the lively way of speaking and thus reformed the language of the newspaper. In 1818, when the government adopted a royal bill banning aggressive writing against the union with Sweden, Peterson wrote articles in which he objected to this restriction on freedom of the press, which was anchored in Section 100 of the Basic Law . In 1821 charges were brought against him for harsh language against King Karl Johann . The trial went all the way to the Supreme Court. Peterson was acquitted in all instances. It was a great victory for press freedom, and Peterson published the trial papers.

After 1814, he vigorously advocated celebrating May 17th as Constitutional Day. At first it was celebrated in private and closed to the public. In the summer of 1824, Peterson raised the demand that the celebration be made public in an article in address avis . On May 17, 1826, on his initiative, the first public parade with cannon salute was carried out in Trondheim.

He was interested in economic issues and in 1815 campaigned for the repeal of the full oath guarantee with which the first state budget of an independent Norway should have been financed. In his articles he fully supported the opposition in Storting. He had also proposed the establishment of an artillery company in the vigilante group, of which he became captain in 1801. In 1816 he was elected to the management of the newly established Norges Bank. He also supported the demand for a Norwegian university. He also spoke out against the contempt for the dishonest profession of the "nattmann".

Notes and individual references

The article is essentially based on the Norsk biografisk leksikon . Other information is specially marked.

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d Trondheim's website ( Memento of the original from May 12, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed March 9, 2010. @1@ 2

↑ Bratberg writes that he only worked in Trondhjems Tidende , which later became the address avail . Address warnings had been in place since 1767 and Trondhjems Tidende only came into being after 1880. Source: Trøndelags historie. Vol. 3, 2005, p. 297 ff.

↑ Lokalhistoriewiki.no .

↑ The "Nattmann" had to clear the streets of rubbish at night and clean the latrines. He was also often a bailiff and assistant to the executioner. The work was viewed as degrading and had the lowest social status.

literature

Terje Bratberg: Article "Matthias Conrad Peterson" in: Norsk biografisk leksikon , accessed on March 9, 2010.

personal data
SURNAME	Peterson, Matthias Conrad
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Norwegian businessman and journalist
DATE OF BIRTH	September 21, 1761
PLACE OF BIRTH	Schleswig
DATE OF DEATH	February 14, 1833
Place of death	Trondheim

[tr_1-1] Trondheim's website ( Memento of the original from May 12, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed March 9, 2010. @1@ 2

[Anm_1-2] Bratberg writes that he only worked in Trondhjems Tidende , which later became the address avail . Address warnings had been in place since 1767 and Trondhjems Tidende only came into being after 1880. Source: Trøndelags historie. Vol. 3, 2005, p. 297 ff.

[hw_1-3] Lokalhistoriewiki.no .

[Erl_1-4] The "Nattmann" had to clear the streets of rubbish at night and clean the latrines. He was also often a bailiff and assistant to the executioner. The work was viewed as degrading and had the lowest social status.