Career
He was Council President of Denmark from 5 July 1910 to 21 June 1913 as the leader of the Cabinet of Klaus Berntsen. From 5 May 1920 to 9 October 1922 he served as Defence Minister
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.
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. He was the father of Aage Berntsen and Oluf Berntsen.
