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Erik Gustaf Boström | |
|---|---|
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| 7th Prime Minister of Sweden | |
| In office 10 July 1891 – 12 September 1900 | |
| Monarch | Oscar II |
| Preceded by | Gustaf Åkerhielm |
| Succeeded by | Fredrik von Otter |
| In office 5 July 1902 – 13 April 1905 | |
| Monarch | Oscar II |
| Preceded by | Fredrik von Otter |
| Succeeded by | Johan Ramstedt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Erik Gustaf Bernhard Boström (1842-02-11)11 February 1842 |
| Died | 21 February 1907(1907-02-21) (aged 65) Stockholm, Sweden |
| Political party | Lantmanna Party |
| Alma mater | Uppsala University |
Erik Gustaf Bernhard Boström (11 February 1842 – 21 February 1907), also known asE. G., was a Swedishconservative statesman and landowner who served asPrime Minister of Sweden from 1891 to 1900 and again from 1902 to 1905. A prominent member of theLantmanna Party, he representedStockholm in theRiksdag from 1876 until his death in 1907. With nearly 13 years in office, Boström is the longest-serving Swedishhead of government of the 19th century.[1][2]
In 1871, he married Carolina "Lina" Almqvist, with whom he had six daughters and one son. He was the brother of Filip Boström, governor ofSödermanland between 1887 and 1908, and ofEbba Boström, and the nephew of the philosopherChristopher Jacob Boström.
Boström's governmental policy was marked by itspragmatism. Over time, Boström gained a good reputation as being a rallying national icon despite being the first prime minister to have neither an academic education nor experience with upper governmental positions. He was also quite popular with KingOscar II. Boström's eventual downfall was caused by his refusal to budge on theissue of Norway.
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Erik Gustaf Boström was born inStockholm, the son of Eric Samuel Boström,chief judge of thedistrict court and his wife Elisabet Gustava Fredenheim. The family was one branch of theLaestadius family of priests fromNorrland. His paternal grandfather Christopher Laestander, a townsman andship carpenter in the city ofPiteå, took the surname Boström.
He was tutored by Kristian Claëson, whose first cousin served as theMinister of Ecclesiastical Affairs under Boström in 1898. In 1854, he became a student at theUppsala Cathedral School, which was also the year his father died. Five of his fellowcabinet members during his first term attended the same school:Axel Rappe,Edvard von Krusenstjerna,Ludvig Annerstedt,Gustaf Gilljam andLars Åkerhielm. In 1861, he transferred toUppsala University, where he studied until 1863 when his mother died and he had to take over her manor atÖstanå Castle.
As a youth he availed himself of the opportunity to pay to avoidconscription, which was last possible in 1872.
Boström was quite successful as afarmer and he started to get involved in local politics. In January 1870, he became a member of theexecutive committee of theAgricultural Society of Stockholm County and of thecounty council ofStockholm County, where he also served as vice-chairperson and chairperson for many years. In 1871, he marriedCarolina Almqvist, daughter ofJustice Councillor andMinisterLudvig Almqvist. In 1875, he was elected to thelower house ofparliament to represent thejudicial district ofSödra Roslagen. In parliament, he joined theLantmanna Party and quickly positioned himself as a leadingprotectionist, supportingtariff protection, in theStanding Committees of Ways and Means and ofBanking. In addition, he was interested in a strong defence, which he considered to have manifested itself as a strong marine defence, and a strong opposition to the abolition of the Swedish allotment system.
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After he retired from his position asPrime Minister, Boström became theChancellor of the Swedish Universities, where he tried unsuccessfully to preventBengt Lidforss from continuing on asassociate professor atLund University. He then tendered hisresignation from his position as chancellor, although he quickly retracted it. Boström continued to be interested in politics and in a letter that he wrote to his dear old friend Carl Herslow on 4 June, he stated that it would be extremely desirable for the recently retired government to have been able to stay on. He also said in a letter thatKarl Staaff'sgovernment could take ofsocial policy better than aconservative government could and that Staaff occasionally appeared to possess the ability to accomplish a lot, although he chose a different way. Boström died in his home inStockholm on 21 February 1907. A few days later, the bells pealed out over Stockholm to commemorate the former Prime Minister.
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Sweden 1891–1900 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Sweden 1902–1905 | Succeeded by |
| Non-profit organization positions | ||
| New title | Chairman of the Nobel Foundation 1900–1907 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
