Erik Gustaf Geijer | |
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 Portrait byCarl Wilhelm Nordgren | |
| Born | (1783-01-12)12 January 1783 |
| Died | 23 April 1847(1847-04-23) (aged 64) |
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Erik Gustaf Geijer (12 January 1783 – 23 April 1847) was aSwedish writer,historian, poet,romantic critic of political economy, philosopher, andcomposer. His writings served to promote SwedishNational Romanticism.[1] He was an influential advocate ofconservatism, but switched toliberalism later in life.[2]
Geijer was born at Geijersgården, his family's estate inRansäter,Värmland. He was educated at thegymnasium ofKarlstad and then attended theUniversity of Uppsala, where he earned his master's degree in 1806. In 1803 he had competed successfully for an historical prize offered by theAcademy of Sciences at Stockholm. In 1809, he traveled inEngland. The year following, he became a lecturer in history at Uppsala, and in 1815 assistant to Eric Michael Fant. Succeeding Fant, Geijer was a professor of history from 1817 at Uppsala University where a statue now commemorates him. He was rector of Uppsala University during the years 1822, 1830, 1836 and 1843–1844. As a representative of the university, he was a member of theChurch of Sweden clergy in theRiksdag of the Estates in 1828–1830 and 1840–1841. He was a member of theSwedish Academy (on seat 14) from 1824. He was a member of the education committee from 1825 to 1828. In 1830 he joinedPro Fide et Christianismo, a Christian education society. In 1835, he became a member of theRoyal Swedish Academy of Sciences.[3][4][5]
Geijer was also a founding member of theGeatish Society (Swedish:Götiska förbundet). In the first issue of its periodical,Iduna, appeared Geijer's most famous poemThe Viking, which described theVikings as the heroicNorsemen that people might imagine today, and was a turning-point in the rehabilitation ofNorse culture among the Swedish people. Geijer collaborated withArvid August Afzelius, in the three volume collection of Swedish folk-songs,Svenska folk-visor från forntiden (Stockholm, 1814–1816).[6]
Geijer was a noted historian, although he did not complete any one of the vast undertakings which he planned. Of theRecords of Sweden (Swedish:Svea Rikes häfder), which were to have embraced the history of his native country from mythical ages to his own times, he finished only the introductory volume. HisSvenska folkets historia (3 vols., 1832–36), which was intended to form one of the series of European histories edited by Leo and Ukert, was not carried beyond the abdication ofQueen Christina (1654), the reason probably being the author's conversion to liberalism in history and politics. It has been suggested, however, that Geijer's declaring for liberalism was perhaps as much coming-out-of-the-closet as it was a true conversion.[7] Incomplete as they are, these works are highly regarded contributions to Swedish history. HisHistory of the Swedes down to Charles X was translated into English by Turner, with biographical introduction (London, 1845).[5]
Geijer was entrusted the task of examining and editing the papers whichGustavus III had bequeathed to the University of Uppsala, with the stipulation that they were not to be opened for fifty years after his death. In fulfillment of his charge, Geijer arranged these papers in a work which appeared in 1843-45 under the title ofGusstaf III's efterlemnade papper, but they contained little or nothing of value.[5]
Although he rose to fame as a nationalist author, Geijer's views changed during his lifetime. During the last ten years of his life, he took an active part in politics, and began to advocate social reform and Liberalism.[5][8] Although his political writings possess great merit, the very versatility of his powers diverted him from applying them methodically to the complete elaboration of any one subject.[5]
In 1846 increasing ill health forced him to resign his position as professor at Uppsala. He died in Stockholm. He left some personal memoirs,Minnen (Upsala, 1834). His collected works,Samlade Skrifter, with a bibliographic treatise by Teodblad (8 vols.), appeared at Stockholm (1873–75).[5]
Geijersgården is a historic mansion in the centre of Uppsala, north of the University library. Geijersgården is named after Erik Gustaf Geijer, who lived there from 1837 to 1846. The main building was built between 1737 and 1738. The estate gained its present appearance around 1850.[9]
In 1934, the estate was taken over by Uppsala University and since 1965 has housed the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation (Hammarskjöldfonden). The building was restored in the 1983 after a fire in which the building's western parts were badly damaged. The buildings are classified as historic properties under the Swedish Cultural Monuments Act (Kulturminneslagen).[10]
Erik Gustaf Geijer was the grandfather ofHugo E. G. Hamilton, who was the grandfather of the prominent Swedish cultural person and authorOlof Lagercrantz and the great-grandfather of the author and journalistDavid Lagercrantz and his sister, actressMarika Lagercrantz. Geijer's granddaughter, Hugo Hamilton's sister Eva, was the mother of the Swedish authorAgnes von Krusenstjerna.[11]
(to his own words unless otherwise stated)
Brief biographical treatises were written by Malmstroem (Upsala, 1848), Fries (Stockholm, 1849), and Carlson (Stockholm, 1870).
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