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Knut Liestøl

1881 – 1952

Norwegian politician

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About Knut Liestøl

Lived 1881 – 1952 (aged 70). Knut Liestøl was a Norwegian professor, politician and ethnologist.

Knut Liestøl (13 November 1881 – 26 June 1952) was a Norwegian folklorist, Nynorsk proponent, and politician.

He was born in Aaseral Municipality to farmers Olav Knutson Liestøl (1855–1944) and Sigrid Røynelid (1856–1950). He was a nephew of Lars Liestøl. In July 1913 he married farmers' daughter Signe Høgetveit. Their son Olav became a noted glaciologist.

A folklorist by profession, he took the dr.philos. degree in 1915 with the thesis Norske trollvisor og norrøne sogor (Norwegian troll songs and Norse sagas). He was appointed as a docent in Nynorsk at the Royal Frederick University in 1909 and promoted to professor of folkloristics in 1917. He also served in Mowinckel's Third Cabinet as Minister of Education and Church Affairs from 1933 to 1935. He was also the chairman of Noregs Mållag from 1925 to 1926.

Liestøl was a fellow of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters from 1916 and graduated as a Knight, Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon and the Order of the Three Stars. He died in June 1952 in Bærum.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Positions held
Minister of Education and Church Affairs, Board member of the Norwegian Broadcasting Council, President of the Norwegian Broadcasting Council
Employers
University of Oslo
Awards
Fridtjof Nansen Award for outstanding research, historical-philosophical class; Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon

Family & relationships

Child
Olav Liestøl

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Knut Liestøl's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Knut Liestøl?

Norwegian politician (1881-1952)

When was Knut Liestøl born?

Knut Liestøl was born on 13 November 1881 in Åseral Municipality.

When did Knut Liestøl die?

Knut Liestøl died on 26 June 1952 in Oslo.

What was Knut Liestøl's occupation?

Knut Liestøl was a professor, politician and ethnologist.

What nationality was Knut Liestøl?

Knut Liestøl was Norwegian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Knut Liestøl

· Wikidata: Q1794781

· DBpedia: Knut Liestøl

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Knut Liestøl. https://biography.guide/knut-liestol/

MLA: "Knut Liestøl." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/knut-liestol/.

Chicago: "Knut Liestøl." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/knut-liestol/.

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