Wilhelm Blakstad

Wilhelm Blakstad (2 February 1863 – 4 January 1936) was a Norwegian politician for the Conservative Party.

Personal life He was born at Blakstad farm in Asker as a son of Erik Jørgensen Blakstad (1827–1890) and his wife Laura Gabrielsen (1832–1868). He was married to Gønner Kjos (1855–1932), and was the father of architect Gudolf Blakstad. Wilhelm Blakstad was also a brother of Finn and Ragnvald Blakstad and a first cousin of Torger, Wilhelm and Bernt Holtsmark.

Career He took his education at Trondhjem Technical School from 1879 to 1881 and the Higher College of Agriculture at Aas from 1885 to 1886. After a strain of various jobs he worked as an engineer from 1886 to 1892, and then as a log driving inspector in the Skien Watershed from 1892 to 1898. From 1902 he was the director of log driving in Lower Glomma, based in Fredrikstad (Fredrikstad Tømmerdirektion). A bust of Blakstad, sculpted by Waldemar Sefsland Dahl, stands outside the old headquarters of Fredrikstad Tømmerdirektion.