Søren Jaabæk

Søren Pedersen Jaabæk (1 April 1814 – 7 January 1894) was a Norwegian politician and farmer. Jaabæk is the longest-serving member of the Norwegian Parliament in the history of Norway, and was one of the founders of the Liberal Party of Norway.

Early life Jaabæk was born in Holme in Lister og Mandals amt, Norway in 1814. After living in Halse og Harkmark Municipality for some years, he returned to Holme Municipality following his father's death in 1849. He began his professional life working in schools and churches. He served several terms as mayor of Holme Municipality and in Halse og Harkmark Municipality between 1840 and 1890. In 1845, he was elected to the Norwegian Parliament, where he served until 1891. Bondevennerne's main newspaper, Folketidende, was also founded by Jaabæk in Mandal in 1865. Jaabæk was elected chairman of Bondevennerne in 1868. By 1884, little remained of Bondevennerne. Some of the remaining bodies gradually became local Liberal bodies. Jaabæk never became one of the leading figures of the new party, but he remained a supporter of Sverdrup for the remainder of his political career. For his last parliamentary term, Jaabæk represented the Moderate Liberal Party. He left the Norwegian Parliament in 1891.

Jaabæk supported economic liberalism and was widely known for his opposition to high governmental spending. His alleged stubbornness in economic matters earned him the nickname "Neibæk" ("No-bæk").

Jaabæk died in 1894.