Jørgen Løvland

Jørgen Gunnarsson Løvland (3 February 1848 – 21 August 1922) was a Norwegian statesman, educator and civil servant who served as the prime minister of Norway from 1907 to 1908. He belonged to the Liberal Party.

Background Løvland was born at Lauvland in Evje og Vegusdal Municipality (in the present-day Evje og Hornnes Municipality) in Nedenes county, Norway. He came from a farming family. He graduated from Christianssands Stifts Seminarium teachers’ seminary in 1865. He worked as primary school teacher in Christianssand (1866-1878) and then as headmaster in Setesdal (1878-1884). From 1884 to 1892 he was also editor of Christianssands Stiftsavis.

Political career He represented the Liberal party at the Norwegian Parliament (Storting) 1886-1888 and again in 1892–1898. He was Minister of Labour (1898–1899, 1900–1902, 1902–1903), a member of the Council of State Division in Stockholm (1899–1900), Minister of Foreign Affairs (1905 and 1905–1907), Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs (1907–1908), and Minister of Education and Church Affairs (1915–1920). In 1905 became the prime minister in Stockholm. He was chair of the Norwegian government of Christian Michelsen. In October 1907, Løvland took over as Norwegian Prime Minister when Michelsen resigned. Løvland resigned the position in March 1908.

Norwegian Nobel Committee Løvland was a member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee from the foundation in 1897 until his death in 1922. He was the committee's chairman (1901–1921).

Personal life He was married to Mathilde Løvland (1851–1938). Following their deaths, both he and his wife were buried at Vår Frelsers gravlund in Oslo.