Carl Joachim Hambro

C. J. Hambro was a prominent Norwegian politician and journalist who played a key role in the country's history during the World War II. He was born in Bergen to a Jewish family that had converted to Christianity. He studied at the University of Oslo and became a journalist for Morgenbladet, a conservative newspaper, in 1903. He later became the editor-in-chief of the paper and a influential voice in the public debate. He was elected to the Parliament of Norway in 1919, representing the Conservative Party. He served as the President of the Parliament for 20 years, from 1926 to 1934 and from 1935 to 1945. He was also the leader of the Conservative Party from 1926 to 1934 and from 1950 to 1954. He was a staunch defender of democracy and human rights, and a vocal critic of totalitarian regimes such as Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia. He was involved in the international affairs, serving as a delegate to the League of Nations and the United Nations. He was also a member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee from 1940 to 1963. He was one of the main actors in the events of April 9, 1940, when Norway was invaded by Nazi Germany. He organized the evacuation of the royal family, the government and the parliament from Oslo, and drafted the Elverum Authorization, which gave the government full executive power to resist the invasion. He followed the government-in-exile to London, where he continued his political and journalistic work. He returned to Norway after the liberation in 1945, and resumed his parliamentary duties. He retired from politics in 1957, but remained active as a writer and speaker. He published several books on history, politics and literature, as well as memoirs and essays. He died of heart failure in Oslo in 1964, at the age of 79. He was buried at Vår Frelsers gravlund, where his grave is marked by a simple stone cross. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and respected figures in Norwegian history.