Background
Robert Themptander was born in Stockholm, the son of army lieutenant Nils Themptander and Adolphina Laurent.
Robert Themptander was born in Stockholm, the son of army lieutenant Nils Themptander and Adolphina Laurent.
Uppsala University.
He was also Minister for Finance. At the age of 40 years and 92 days, Themptander is the youngest person to become Prime Minister in Swedish history. His death at the age of 52 years and 351 days makes him also the youngest prime minister at his death.
Gradually he began move orientate towards the agrarian party.
In the government of Arvid Posse in 1880, he became Minister without Portfolio and, in 1881 Minister of Finance. He stayed on in this office in three years before he became Prime Minister at the age of 40.
Only Louis De Geer had become Prime Minister at a younger age. Through good contacts in different parliamentary positions he was successful in breaking the political gridlock concerning the defense question.
He was less successful in his goal to protect the free trade system which Louis De Geer and Minister of Finance Gripenstedt had instituted during their time in office.
As food prices on the world markets sank because of increased imports from all of North America, demand increased for high tariffs to protect Swedish interests. Eventually Themptander was constrained to retire, yet not through defeat in the 1887 election, when his resistance towards the new duty-friendly winds of opinion meant more election debate than before. This was seen by many at the time as uncommon.
But it appeared that one member had not paid his taxes and therefore the whole list was declared invalid.
Therefore, the Second Chamber returned a protectionist majority. Themptander attempted to have King Oscar II announce a new election, but the King denied the request.
Then Themptander resigned as Prime Minister. From 1888-1896 he was Stockholm County Governor and afterwards director for Trafik Bachelor of Arts Grängesberg–Oxelösund.
Robert Themptander died on 30 January 1897 in Stockholm.
This political economy had with many good benefits contributed to the modernization of Sweden. Riksdag candidates were compelled to answer about which views they had, if they were Free Traders or Protectionists.
After law studies in Uppsala and a highly successful career in the civil service he became in 1879 a member of the Second Chamber. There from the beginning he was a member of the centre party, a party loyal to then incumbent government. Lifelong members of the Riksdag had previously been elected on the basis of their high personal reputation and confidence.
Lifelong members of the Riksdag who were free trade supporteers were replaced with tariff supporters.
