The New International Encyclopædia/Sverdrup, Johan

SVERDRUP, svĕr'drụp, Johan (1816-92). A Norwegian politician, born at the Château of Jarisberg. He studied and practiced law, but from 1850, when he was elected to the Storthing, gave his entire attention to politics and became the leader of the radical peasant faction. As president of the Storthing since 1871, he violently fought against the royal prerogatives. He was called to preside over the Ministry in 1884, hut did not satisfy the radical portion of his adherents, and, yielding to the combined attacks of the Conservatives and the extreme Left, resigned in 1889.