Bent Holtsmark

{{Short description|Norwegian agriculturalist and politician}} '''Bent Holtsmark''' (1823–1903) was a Norwegian agriculturalist and politician.

He was born in Lier, but moved to Asker in 1849. He was a farmer at Tveter farm, and also owned the farms Berg, Vøien and Sem. He was decorated with the ''King Oscar II Medal'' for his work in agriculture, and was also mayor of Asker from 1869 to 1875.<ref name=asbl>{{cite encyclopedia|year=2006|title=Holtsmark, Bent|encyclopedia=Asker og Bærum leksikon|publisher=Forlaget for by- og bygdehistorie|location=Drammen|first=Per Otto|last=Borgen|page=233|language=Norwegian|isbn=82-91649-10-3}}</ref> He was an elector for the Conservative Party in the 1888 Norwegian parliamentary election.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bryn|first=Olaf|authorlink=Olaf Bryn|title=Høire i Bærum gjennem 50 år 1884–1934|year=1934|publisher=Bærum Conservative Party|location=Bærum|language=Norwegian|page=5}}</ref>

His sons Bernt Holtsmark and Wilhelm Holtsmark established an agricultural college at Sem,<ref name=asbl/> today known as a manor<ref name=snl>{{cite encyclopedia|year=|title=Sem hovedgård (Asker)|encyclopedia=Store norske leksikon|editor=|publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget|location=Oslo|url=http://www.snl.no/Sem_hovedg%C3%A5rd_(Asker)|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130223031655/http://www.snl.no/Sem_hovedg%C3%A5rd_(Asker)|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 February 2013|language=Norwegian|accessdate=7 May 2009}}</ref> which lent its name to the Declaration of Sem of the Bondevik's Second Cabinet.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|year=2006|title=Sem-erklæringen|encyclopedia=Asker og Bærum leksikon|publisher=Forlaget for by- og bygdehistorie|location=Drammen|first=Per Otto|last=Borgen|page=440|language=Norwegian|isbn=82-91649-10-3}}</ref> Bernt Holtsmark was also a Minister of Agriculture. A third son Torger Holtsmark moved back to Lier, and became mayor there.<ref name=asbl/> A fourth son Gabriel Gabrielsen Holtsmark became a physicist, and through him Bent was grandfather of Johan, Anne and Karen Holtsmark.<ref name=lier>{{cite web|url=http://www.lier.kommune.no/liers-historie/holtsmark.htm|title=Holtsmark|publisher=Lier municipality|language=Norwegian|accessdate=7 May 2009}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Holtsmark, Bent}} Category:1823 births Category:1903 deaths Category:People from Lier, Norway Category:Norwegian farmers Category:Mayors of places in Akershus Category:Politicians from Asker Municipality Category:Conservative Party (Norway) politicians