Laurits Selmer Swenson (aka Selmer) (June 12, 1865–November 4, 1947) was an Americandiplomat who served as Ambassador (called Minister at the time) toNorway, theNetherlands,Switzerland andDenmark.
Laurits Selmer Swenson was born inNew Sweden, Minnesota to Norwegian immigrant parents. His father, Swen Swenson (1836–1905) was a Minnesota State Representative.[1]He graduated fromIowa'sLuther College withbachelor's (1886) andmaster's (1889) degrees and became Principal of Lutheran Academy inAlbert Lea, where he worked from 1888 to 1897.[2][3] From 1895 to 1897 Swenson served on theUniversity of MinnesotaBoard of Regents.[4]Swenson also pursued a business career, serving as vice president of Union State Bank and president of the Wiprud Land & Colonization Company, an effort to attract European immigrants to settle inMinnesota.[5]
In 1897, Swenson started a diplomatic career when he was appointedMinister to Denmark.[6] He served inCopenhagen until 1905.[7] In this post, Swenson negotiated the terms for the sale of theDanish West Indies (now theU.S. Virgin Islands).[8]
In 1909, he was appointedMinister to Switzerland, where he served until 1911.[9][10]
Swenson served asMinister to Norway from 1911 to 1913.[11][12] In 1921 Swenson was again appointed Minister to Norway, and he held this position until 1930.[13][14] Swenson was a popular diplomat, particularly in Norway, maybe due to his Norwegian ancestry. In 1929Time Magazine wrote: "Europeans have always marveled that the diplomatic and consular representatives of the U. S. are so often of the same strain as the people to whom they are accredited".[15]
In 1925, Swenson received theNobel Peace Prize in Oslo, on behalf of the US vice presidentCharles Gates Dawes. The prize was shared with the British secretary of stateAusten Chamberlain.
In 1931, Swenson was namedAmbassador to the Netherlands, where he served until 1934.[16][17] He then retired and moved back to Norway where his only daughter lived.
Swenson died inOslo on November 4, 1947.[18]
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | U.S. Minister to Denmark 1897–1905 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | U.S. Minister to Switzerland 1909–1911 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | U.S. Minister to Norway 1911–1913 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | U.S. Minister to Norway 1921–1930 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | U.S. Minister to the Netherlands 1931–1934 | Succeeded by |
| Chargé d'Affaires |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Minister Resident | ||
| Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary | ||
| Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary | ||
| Minister Resident | | |
|---|---|---|
| Chargé d'Affaires | ||
| Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary | ||
| Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary | ||
| ||
