Klaus Berntsen (12 June 1844 – 27 March 1927) was a

Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish a ...

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...

, representing the Liberal party, Venstre. He was

Council President of Denmark The prime minister of Denmark ( da, Danmarks statsminister, fo, Forsætisráðharri, kl, Ministeriuneq) is the head of government in the Kingdom of Denmark comprising the three constituent countries: Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Island ...

from 1910 to 1913. He served as minister of defence from 1910 to 1913 and again from 1920 to 1922. He was also minister of the interior from 1908 to 1909.

Biography

He was born on 12 June 1844. He was the father of

Aage Berntsen Aage Berntsen (16 May 1885 – 16 April 1952) was a Danish fencer, poet, doctor and artist. He competed in five events at the 1920 Summer Olympics. He was son of the Danish prime minister Klaus Berntsen and his brother was the fencer Ol ...

and Oluf Berntsen. Very early he took part in politics as a quick-witted and popular agitator but belonging to the Moderate Venstre he was for many years without much political influence. After the beginning reunion of the old Venstre groups he played a greater role as a minister that led to the forming of his own cabinet. He was a personal friend of King Frederick VIII and enjoyed the king's support but his government was accused of lacking social understanding. 1913 he proposed the revision of the Constitution that was carried through by the second Zahle Cabinet. When he retired from politics in 1926 he was one of the oldest Danish active parliamentarian politicians ever. As a member of the Folketing 1873-1884 and again 1886-1926 he remains the longest-serving member of the Danish Parliament and the only member for over 50 years. He died on 27 March 1927.

References

1844 births 1927 deaths Danish Defence Ministers Danish Interior Ministers Prime Ministers of Denmark Members of the Folketing Venstre (Denmark) politicians People from Nordfyn Municipality {{Denmark-politician-stub