Peter Frederik Suhm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Frederik Suhm
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Portrait of Peter Frederik Suhm by Jens Juel
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| Born | 18 October 1728 |
| Died | 7 September 1798 (aged 69) Copenhagen, Denmark
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| Nationality | Danish |
| Alma mater | University of Copenhagen |
| Occupation | Historian |
Peter Frederik Suhm was an important Danish historian. He lived from 1728 to 1798. Suhm was known for his huge collection of books and for helping to start a famous scientific group.
Contents
Peter Frederik Suhm's Life
Early Years and Studies
Peter Frederik Suhm was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, on October 18, 1728. He went to the University of Copenhagen from 1746 to 1751. One of his teachers was the famous writer Ludvig Holberg. While studying, Suhm also translated plays. In 1749, he translated a comedy by Plautus and a French play.
Moving to Trondheim
In 1751, Suhm traveled to Trondheim in Norway. He went with another Danish historian, Gerhard Schøning. They worked together on history projects for many years. In 1757, they published a book called Improvements to the Old Danish-Norwegian History.
In Trondheim, Suhm married Karen Angell in 1752. She was the only child of a rich Norwegian merchant. Karen's mother agreed to the marriage only if Suhm and Karen stayed in Trondheim. They lived there for nine years until Karen's mother passed away. After that, Suhm and his wife moved back to Copenhagen. The money Karen inherited allowed Suhm to spend his life studying and collecting books.
Starting a Scientific Society
In 1760, Suhm, along with Gerhard Schøning and Johan Ernst Gunnerus, helped create the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters. It was first called the Trondheim Society. From 1761, this group started publishing academic papers. It became the most northern scientific society in the world.
Writing History Books
Suhm wrote many important history books. From 1761 to 1765, he published five volumes of Trondheim Collections. In 1771, he wrote about the state of science and arts in Denmark and Norway. His book Summary of the History of Denmark, Norway, and Holstein (1776) was used as a history textbook for many years. From 1782 to 1793, he published the first seven volumes of his very detailed History of Denmark.
Suhm was also a leader of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters. In 1779, he became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
His Amazing Book Collection
Peter Frederik Suhm was a huge book collector. He owned about 100,000 books! In 1775, he opened his library so that the public could use it.
In 1796, Daniel Gotthilf Moldenhawer bought Suhm's entire collection for the Royal Danish Library. The agreement was that Suhm and his wife would receive payments for the rest of their lives. However, both Suhm and his wife passed away shortly after the sale was completed.
Peter Frederik Suhm is buried in the crypt of the Christian's Church in Copenhagen. A street in Copenhagen, Suhmsgade, is named after him.
Legacy
The street Suhmsgade in Copenhagen is named after Peter Frederik Suhm, honoring his contributions.
