Johannes Wilhelm Christian Dietrichson

Johannes Wilhelm Christian Dietrichson (4 April 1815 – 15 October 1883) was a Norwegian Lutheran minister.

Early life Dietrichson was born in Fredriksstad in Smaalenenes Amt, Norway to Fredrik Dietrichson (1787–1866) and Karen Sophie Henriette Radich (1794–1867). Through his sister he was an uncle of Johan Scharffenberg, and he was also a distant relative of Norwegian politician and labor leader, (1880-1949).

Career He grew up and attended school in Fredriksstad where his teachers included Hans Riddervold. He graduated from the Royal Frederick University in Christiania in 1837. He was present at the Norwegian Missionary Society national convention in 1843. After being ordained as a Lutheran minister in February 1844, he immigrated to the United States, arriving on 9 July 1844. He authored Travels among the Norwegian Emigrants in The United North American Free States (Norwegian: Reise blandt de norske emigranter i “De Forenede nordamerikanske fristater) which was published in Stavanger. After Dietrichson questioned the validity of clergymen who had been ordained in America, he clashed with lay leader Elling Eielsen.

Personal life In November 1839, he married Jørgine Laurentze Broch (1816–1841). She died in childbirth in 1841, and Johannes Dietrichson re-married to Charlotte Josine Omsen Müller (1819–1903) in June 1846.