Fredrik Lange-Nielsen

Fredrik Lange-Nielsen (13 May 1891 – 16 May 1980) was a Norwegian mathematician and insurance company manager. He chaired the Norwegian Students' Society, edited Norsk matematisk Tidsskrift, and lectured at the University of Oslo. He was chief executive of the insurance company Norske Liv for nearly twenty years, was elected member of several governmental commissions, and a member of the Norwegian Academy for Language and Literature from its establishment in 1953.

Personal life Lange-Nielsen was born in Eivindvik in Gulen Municipality; the son of physician Johan Fredrik Nielsen and Christine Lange. He married Laura Stang Lund in 1918. He was the father of judge Trygve Lange-Nielsen, and father-in-law of novelist Sissel Lange-Nielsen. He died in Oslo in 1980. He chaired the Norwegian Students' Society in 1916. He graduated candidatus realium in 1917, and subsequently studied mathematics in Lund and in Paris. He was imprisoned at Møllergata 19, and then incarcerated at the Grini concentration camp from January 1942 to May 1943. While at Grini, he took part in what has been described as the first actual political discussions in the camp, along with Erling Bühring-Dehli, Olaf Solumsmoen and others.

From 1945 to 1964 he was chief executive of the insurance company Norske Liv. He was elected to several governmental commissions, including Pensjonslovkomiteen of 1935, Krigpensjoneringsutvalget of 1940, and Livsforsikringskomiteen of 1947. He was among the first members of the Norwegian Academy for Language and Literature from its foundation in 1953. He was awarded the Grand Cross of Den Gyldne Gris, and was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Order of St. Olav, Knight of the Danish Order of Dannebrog, and Knight of the Swedish Order of the Polar Star.