Background
He was born in Haus to innkeeper Nils Harbitz and his wife Elisabet Christine Ibsen. His father died when Georg was eight years old, and he was eventually sent to the wealthy family Prahl in Bergen for upbringing.
He was born in Haus to innkeeper Nils Harbitz and his wife Elisabet Christine Ibsen. His father died when Georg was eight years old, and he was eventually sent to the wealthy family Prahl in Bergen for upbringing.
He graduated as candidate.theol.
Here, he was inspired to undertake academic studies. He became involved in politics, and when local government was introduced in Norway, Harbitz served as the first mayor of Askevold municipality. He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1836 and 1839, representing the constituency of Nordre Bergenhus Amt.
From the start he was known as peasant-friendly, a political current which began making its mark in Parliament from 1830.
While stationed here, he was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1842 and 1845. In the meantime, Slidre had been split into Øystre and Vestre Slidre.
Harbitz became vicar of Vestre Slidre. He was elected to Parliament two more times, in 1848 and 1851.
During the 1848 term he was President of the Storting, together with Halvor Olaus Christensen, Hans Riddervold and Carl Valentin Falsen.
He then decided to leave Vestre Slidre for financial reasons. Reportedly, the wage was low and often delayed. Harbitz applied for the vicarship in Nøtterø, and began this tenure in 1852.
Representing the constituency of Jarlsberg og Laurvigs Amt, he was elected to Parliament in 1854, 1857, 1859, 1862, 1865 and 1868.
He continued to serve as President of the Storting for each of these terms. In 1864 he was the sole holder of this position, and held the principal speeches commemorating the fiftieth anniversaries of the Constitution of Norway (on 17 May) and the Union between Sweden and Norway (on 4 November).
Having chosen to not stand for parliamentary re-election in 1870, he sought retirement from his vicarship in December 1878, and finally left the position when a replacement was found in April 1879. He was granted a 6,000 kr yearly pension.
His successor was Johan Nordahl Brun, not to be confused with the poet of the same name.
He died in 1889, and was buried in Askvold. Georg Prahl Harbitz was married to Maren Mariken Hof from Aker. Georg Prahl Harbitz did not remarry.
Their oldest son Johannes Winding Harbitz became a parliament member and government minister.
He was conservative in Constitutional matters.
