Francis Sejersted facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Francis Sejersted
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Francis Sejersted c. 2009
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| Born | 8 February 1936 |
| Died | 25 August 2015 (aged 79) |
| Occupation | Professor |
Francis Sejersted (born February 8, 1936 – died August 25, 2015) was a famous professor of history from Norway. He was also the chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. This committee is very important because it chooses who wins the Nobel Peace Prize each year. Francis Sejersted led the committee from 1991 to 1995.
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Early Life and Education
Francis Sejersted was born in Oslo, the capital city of Norway. When he was young, he served in the military. He was part of a special program where he learned the Russian language.
Later, he studied history, Nordic languages, and literature at the University of Oslo. In 1965, he earned a degree called cand.philol., which is like a master's degree. Then, in 1973, he earned his doctorate, which is the highest university degree.
In 1962, Francis Sejersted was the president of the Norwegian Students' Association. He represented the student group connected to the Conservative Party of Norway. He stayed involved with this political party throughout his life.
Career as a Historian
From 1971 to 1973, Sejersted worked as a docent (a type of university lecturer) in history at the University of Oslo. After that, he became a professor there. He taught about social and economic history until 1998. This means he studied how societies and economies changed over time.
From 1988 to 1998, he was the director of the Centre for Technology and Culture at the university. After 1999, he worked as a fellow at the Institute for Social Research.
As a historian, Francis Sejersted was an expert on the history of Scandinavian countries. He focused on their economy, technology, and politics. His studies covered the time between the Napoleonic Wars and World War II. He also helped edit important historical magazines like Historisk Tidsskrift and Nytt norsk tidsskrift.
Work with the Nobel Peace Prize
Francis Sejersted was a member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee from 1982 to 1999. This committee is famous for choosing the winners of the Nobel Peace Prize. From 1991 to 1995, he was the chairman, or leader, of this important committee.
He also served on the board of the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden, from 1990 to 1999. This foundation manages all the Nobel Prizes.
In 1996, he led a government commission in Norway that looked at freedom of speech. Later, in 2000, he became the chairman of The Freedom of Expression Foundation. This foundation supports freedom of speech and public debate.
Awards and Honors
Francis Sejersted was recognized by many important groups for his work. He became a member of several academies, which are groups of highly respected experts. These included the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters (1985) and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (1997).
In 1999, he received an honorary doctor title from the University of Linköping in Sweden. This is a special award given to people who have achieved great things.
He also received high honors from different countries. He was a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav from Norway. He also received the Order of the Dannebrog from Denmark and the Order of the Polar Star from Sweden.
Later Years and Death
Francis Sejersted suffered from a long illness. He passed away on August 25, 2015, in Oslo, Norway. He was 79 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Francis Sejerstad para niños
