.png)
Rasmus Bjørn Anderson (January 12, 1846 – March 2, 1936) was an American author, professor, editor, businessman and diplomat. He brought to popular attention the fact thatVikingexplorers were the first Europeans to arrive in theNew World and was the originator ofLeif Erikson Day.[1][2]
Anderson was born in theTown of Albion inDane County,Wisconsin and grew up inKoshkoning.[3] His parents Bjørn Anderson Kvelve (1801–1850) and Abel Cathrine von Krogh (1809–1885) were immigrants from Sandeid / Vikedal in Ryfylke in the county ofRogaland,Norway.[4] His mother also had Danish, Swedish, German, Dutch, and Flemish ancestry. His parents were part of a small band ofQuaker sympathizers who organized a Norwegian emigration to America in 1836.[5] His father died ofcholera when Anderson was four years old.[4]
Anderson was a graduate ofLuther College and theUniversity of Wisconsin. He was a professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 1867 to 1883. While there, he was the founding head of the Department ofScandinavian Studies, the oldest such department in an American university. He also persuaded Norwegian violinistOle Bull to give a concert for the benefit of a projected Norwegian language library at the university. Ole Bull subsequently paid Anderson's expenses for a trip to Norway to purchase books for the library.[6][7][8]
Rasmus B. Anderson founded a publication company, theNorrœna Society, which focused on republishing translations of texts devoted to "the History and Romance of Northern Europe". Anderson was the author of a number of books with Scandinavian themes. He also did a series of translations from Scandinavian languages, most notably the writings of Norwegian novelistBjørnstjerne Bjørnson. From 1905 to 1907, Rasmus Anderson acted as editor-in-chief of the Norrœna Library.[8]
From 1885 to 1889, Anderson served as theUnited States Ambassador to Denmark. After his return to the U.S. in 1889, he was editor (1898–1922) of the Norwegian language weekly,Amerika. He also served as president of the Wisconsin Life Insurance Co. from 1895 to 1922.[9][2]
Anderson's bookAmerica Not Discovered by Columbus helped popularize the now familiar fact thatNorse explorers were the first Europeans in theNew World. Anderson was the originator of the movement to honorLeif Erikson with a holiday in theUnited States. Through efforts he started and led,Leif Erikson Day became an official observance in his nativeWisconsin and otherUS states. Decades after Anderson's death, it first became a federal observance bypresidential proclamation in 1964.[10]
In 1868, he married Bertha Karina Olson (1848–1922). They were the parents of five children. His wife died in 1922. Anderson spent the last years of his life in their home inMadison, where he died in 1936. He was buried at Lake Ripley Cemetery inCambridge, Wisconsin.[7][8]
Johnson, Rossiter, ed. (1906). "Anderson, Rasmus Bjorn".The Biographical Dictionary of America. Vol. 1. Boston: American Biographical Society. pp. 111–112.
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | U.S. Ambassador to Denmark 1885–1889 AsMinister Resident/Consul General | Succeeded by |
| Chargé d'Affaires |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Minister Resident | ||
| Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary | ||
| Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |
