# Finn Devold
> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Finn_Devold
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Finn_Devold.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finn_Devold
> Source revision: 1341265355
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
{{Short description|Norwegian Arctic explorer, marine biologist and meteorologist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Finn Devold
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date text|24 April 1902}}
| birth_place = [Bergen](/source/Bergen), Norway
| death_date = {{death date and age text|26 May 1977 |24 April 1902}}
| death_place = Bergen, Norway
| occupation = Polar explorer, marine biologist, meteorologist
| known_for = [Herring](/source/Herring) fisheries studies
| spouse = Karen Elisabeth Jenssen (1897–1983)
| children =
| awards = Knight of the [Order of St. Olav](/source/Order_of_St._Olav), 1954
Grand Knight of the [Order of the Falcon](/source/Order_of_the_Falcon) ([Iceland](/source/Iceland))
[Hans Strøm](/source/Hans_Str%C3%B8m) Medal of the [Norwegian Fisheries Promotion Company](/source/Norwegian_Fisheries_Promotion_Company)
Oscar Sund Prize
}}
[[File:Norwegian territorial claims in E Greenland 1931 - 1933.png|thumb|Territories of Eastern Greenland claimed by Norway until the 1933 Permanent Court of International Justice resolution. Finn Devold led the proclamation from [Finnsbu](/source/Finnsbu) in the southeastern area.]]
'''Finn Devold''' (born 24 April 1902 in [Bergen](/source/Bergen), died 26 May 1977) was a Norwegian [Arctic explorer](/source/Arctic_explorer), marine biologist and meteorologist. His father was parish priest Harald Ophus Devold. Together with his brother [Hallvard Devold](/source/Hallvard_Devold), Finn shared an interest in the Arctic areas and the expansion of Norwegian sovereignty across [Greenland](/source/Greenland).[{{cite web|url=https://snl.no/Finn_Devold|title=Finn Devold – Store norske leksikon|website=snl.no|accessdate=19 September 2019}}][{{cite web|url=https://nbl.snl.no/Finn_Devold|title=Finn Devold – Norsk biografisk leksikon|website=nbl.snl.no|accessdate=19 September 2019}}]
==Biography==
Finn first traveled to the Arctic in 1923, interrupting his earlier scientific studies in Norway. He worked with his brother Hallvard at the [Kvadehuken](/source/Kvadehuken) meteorology station in [Svalbard](/source/Svalbard), established in 1920 by the Geophysical Institute of [Tromsø](/source/Troms%C3%B8). While there, he took part in a rescue operation of two English airmen whose aircraft had crash-landed nearby. In October 1924, the Kvadehuken facility was closed for financial reasons, and less than two years later, he and his brother moved to the meteorological station in [Jan Mayen](/source/Jan_Mayen). In 1927, Finn measured the elevation of [Beerenberg](/source/Beerenberg), a volcano that is the island's highest point.[{{cite web|url=http://carl.npolar.no/hendelser/1203343379.86|website=carl.npolar.no|title=Finn Devold besteg vulkanen Beerenberg på Jan Mayen sommeren 1927. Etter Devold beregninger er Beerenberg 2100 meter|accessdate=19 September 2019}}] After leaving Jan Mayen in 1928, Finn traveled to northeastern Greenland with his brother, a leader of the "Greenland case" ''(Grønlandssaken)'', a movement that sought to bring large swathes of East Greenland under Norwegian sovereignty. During that time (1927–28), he became [Fridtjof Nansen](/source/Fridtjof_Nansen)'s assistant.[Ingolf Røttingen, [http://www.imr.no/aktuelt/nyhetsarkiv/2002/april/finn_devold_19021977 lengre omtale] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070426065055/http://www.imr.no/aktuelt/nyhetsarkiv/2002/april/finn_devold_19021977 |date=26 April 2007 }} fra [Havforskningsinstituttet](/source/Havforskningsinstituttet) og kronikk i [Bergens Tidende](/source/Bergens_Tidende) (24.4.2002)]
===Norwegian Claims in East Greenland===
Finn actively participated in the 1931–33 Norwegian territorial claim movement in Greenland led from [Myggbukta](/source/Myggbukta) Station, where his brother led expeditions undertaken with the station as a base. By 1932, about 80 cabins manned by Norwegian trappers and fishermen had been built in different areas of East Greenland, including some in the distant [King Frederick VI Coast](/source/King_Frederick_VI_Coast) and [Storfjord Station](/source/Storfjord_Station) in the [Kangerlussuaq Fjord](/source/Kangerlussuaq_Fjord%2C_East_Greenland) in between.[{{cite web|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/polar-record/article/norwegian-expedition-to-southeast-greenland-1932/0AB0733AA8E0DABDB735444D911AB5D6|title=Norwegian Expedition to South-East Greenland, 1932 | Polar Record | Cambridge Core|website=cambridge.org|accessdate=19 September 2019}}] Finn Devold led the actions in southeastern Greenland, where he had established the [Finnsbu](/source/Finnsbu) radio station.[Spencer Apollonio, ''Lands That Hold One Spellbound: A Story of East Greenland,'' 2008, pp. 188-189] [Denmark](/source/Denmark) protested and brought the case to the [Permanent Court of International Justice](/source/Permanent_Court_of_International_Justice) in [The Hague](/source/The_Hague). Following the 1933 resolution of the court awarding Greenland to the Danish government, Norway's claims in Greenland were given up, and most Norwegian outposts were closed.[{{cite web|url=https://docplayer.me/40081894-Recent-norwegian-expeditions-to-south-east-greenland-gunnar-horn-norges-svalbard-og-ishavs-undersokelser-meddelelse-nr-p.html|title=Recent Norwegian Expeditions to South-East Greenland Gunnar Horn. Norges Svalbard- og Ishavs-undersøkelser Meddelelse|website=docplayer.me|accessdate=19 September 2019}}] Even then, some stations, such as [Jonsbu](/source/Jonsbu) at the northern end and [Torgilsbu](/source/Torgilsbu) at the southern, continued operation under Danish jurisdiction and restrictions for a few years.[Spencer Apollonio, ''Lands That Hold One Spellbound: A Story of East Greenland,'' 2008, p. 192]
===Later life===
In 1936, Finn was hired by the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research. He left involvement in politics and concentrated on his studies, obtaining a degree in mathematics and science in 1940. In 1943, he became a fisheries consultant at the institute. He specialized in [Atlantic herring](/source/Atlantic_herring) fisheries, and in 1950, he followed herring migrations on the new vessel "GO Sars." Finn carefully surveyed Atlantic herring's migration patterns before winter herring fishing. He published some of the results of his research in the Norwegian press, and in time his work became internationally recognized. Towards the end of his career, Finn became concerned about herring [overfishing](/source/overfishing), that led to the depletion of Norwegian spring-spawning herring populations after the 1960s.[Finn Devold, ''Sildemysterier i vitenskapelig belysning'' i [VG](/source/Verdens_Gang) (25.3.1950)] Although he retired in 1972, Finn Devold continued his research on herring fisheries. He died in Bergen in 1977.