The Right Reverend Johan Nordahl Brun | |
|---|---|
 Portrait hanging in theBergen Cathedral | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1745-03-21)21 March 1745 |
| Died | 26 July 1816(1816-07-26) (aged 71) Bergen,Norway |
| Nationality | Norwegian |
| Denomination | Church of Norway |
| Occupation | Priest |
Johan Nordahl Brun (21 March 1745 – 26 July 1816) was a Norwegian-Danish poet, dramatist, bishop of theDiocese of Bjørgvin (1804–1816), and politician who contributed significantly to the growth ofnational romanticism inNorway, contributing to the growing national consciousness.
Johan Nordahl Brun was born inByneset, just outside the city ofTrondheim inSøndre Trondhjem county,Norway, on 21 March 1745. He was born to the businessman Svend Busch Brun (1703–1784) and his wife Mette Catharina Nordal. He traveled toCopenhagen in 1767, where he passed his theological examinations. While at theUniversity of Copenhagen, Brun was a prominent member ofThe Norwegian Society (Det Norske Selskab), a group of younger Norwegian authors, poets and philosophers. He was married on 2 September 1773 to Ingeborg Lind.Nordahl Grieg (Johan Nordahl Brun Grieg) was a descendant of the bishop and was named after him.[1][2]
After leaving the university, Brun worked for a time as a secretary to BishopJohan Ernst Gunnerus inTrondheim. He was hired as the chaplain for the parish ofByneset Church in 1772. In 1774, he was called to be the parish priest for theHoly Cross Church inBergen. He served in this post from 1774 until 1793 when he was promoted to the position ofDean of Bergen andNordhordland. In 1804, Brun was appointed bishop of theDiocese of Bjørgvin. He served as bishop until his death on 26 July 1816.[1][2]
In literary history, Brun found his place when he wrote the first Norwegianromantic nationalistic play,Einer Tambeskielver (1772). This play aroused a strong awakening of Norwegian spirit and was produced many times. He also wrote many poems, includingNorway's first (unofficial) national anthem, "For Norge, Kiempers Fødeland" (1771), and published a book of Lutheran Hymns (1786). He was also the writer of the city of Bergen's anthem "Jeg Tog Min Nystæmte" (1790).[1][2]
| Religious titles | ||
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| Preceded by | Bishop ofBjørgvin 1803–1816 | Succeeded by |
