Oscar Ferdinand Youngdahl (October 13, 1893 – February 3, 1946) was an American

lawyer A lawyer is a person who practices law. The role of a lawyer varies greatly across different legal jurisdictions. A lawyer can be classified as an advocate, attorney, barrister, canon lawyer, civil law notary, counsel, counselor, solic ...

and politician from Minnesota. He was the older brother of Minnesota Governor and United States federal judge Luther Youngdahl. Youngdahl was born in

Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...

and attended local public schools. He began his undergraduate education at Hamline University in

St. Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul (abbreviated St. Paul) is the capital of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County. Situated on high bluffs overlooking a bend in the Mississippi River, Saint Paul is a regional business hub and the center o ...

, but ultimately graduated from

Gustavus Adolphus College Gustavus Adolphus College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in St. Peter, Minnesota. It was founded in 1862 by Swedish Americans led by Eric Norelius and is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Gustavus gets its nam ...

St. Peter, Minnesota St. Peter is a city in Nicollet County, Minnesota, United States. It is 10 miles north of the Mankato – North Mankato metropolitan area. The population was 12,066 at the 2020 census. St. Peter is the county seat of Nicollet County and home ...

in 1916. Afterward, Youngdahl served as a high school principal in Ortonville, Minnesota, also doubling as the school's drama and public-speaking instructor. In 1918, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served until 1919, attaining the rank of Seaman Second Class. Changing career direction again, Youngdahl began selling bonds and securities in the Twin Cities while simultaneously attending law school. He graduated from William Mitchell College of Law (then the Minnesota College of Law) in 1925 and began practicing in Minneapolis. He unsuccessfully ran for state attorney general eleven years later. Youngdahl resurrected his political career in 1938, when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He won reelection in 1940, but failed to receive his Republican Party's nomination in 1942. Returning to Minneapolis, he practiced law until his death in 1946.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Youngdahl, Oscar Ferdinand 1893 births 1946 deaths Politicians from Minneapolis Military personnel from Minneapolis American people of Swedish descent Minnesota lawyers Gustavus Adolphus College alumni Hamline University alumni William Mitchell College of Law alumni Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Minnesota 20th-century American politicians Lawyers from Minneapolis United States Navy personnel of World War I United States Navy sailors