# Jens Malling

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**Jens Henrik Peder Arnold Malling** (11 April 1909 – 25 January 1969) was a Swedish diplomat whose career spanned over three decades and took him to key postings around the world. After joining the [Ministry for Foreign Affairs](/source/Ministry_for_Foreign_Affairs_(Sweden)) in 1938, he served in [Rome](/source/Rome), [Chicago](/source/Chicago), and [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington,_D.C.), before moving on to positions in [New York City](/source/New_York_City) and [Stockholm](/source/Stockholm) during the Second World War.

Post-war, Malling held senior consular and diplomatic roles in [Hamburg](/source/Hamburg), [Vienna](/source/Vienna), [Tel Aviv](/source/Tel_Aviv), and as a mediator in Korea under the [Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission](/source/Neutral_Nations_Supervisory_Commission). He was appointed envoy to Israel in 1956, followed by ambassadorships in [Jakarta](/source/Jakarta), [Manila](/source/Manila), [Kuala Lumpur](/source/Kuala_Lumpur), [Rio de Janeiro](/source/Rio_de_Janeiro), and [The Hague](/source/The_Hague). He also represented Sweden at the United Nations and worked with UN technical assistance programs in Iraq.

Known for his warm personality and diplomatic skill, Malling played a role in strengthening Sweden's international relationships, particularly in Brazil, where he served as honorary chairman of the Swedish-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce. His career was cut short by his death in 1969 while serving as ambassador to the Netherlands.

## Early life

Malling was born on 11 April 1909 in [Stockholm](/source/Stockholm), Sweden, the son of Lieutenant Colonel Henrik Malling and his wife Ingrid (née Asklund). He passed *[studentexamen](/source/Studentexamen)* in [Lund](/source/Lund) in 1928 and received a Bachelor of Arts in 1932, a Politices Magister (MA in political science) degree in 1938 and a Candidate of Law degree in 1938.[1]

## Career

Malling became an attaché at the [Ministry for Foreign Affairs](/source/Ministry_for_Foreign_Affairs_(Sweden)) in 1938 and served in [Rome](/source/Rome) the same year and in [Chicago](/source/Chicago) in 1939 and in [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington,_D.C.) in 1940. Malling was acting second vice consul in [New York City](/source/New_York_City) in 1943 and second secretary at the Foreign Ministry in Stockholm in 1944.[1]

Malling was first vice consul in [Hamburg](/source/Hamburg) in 1946 and first legation secretary and *[chargé d'affaires ad interim](/source/Charg%C3%A9_d'affaires)* in [Vienna](/source/Vienna) in 1946. He served as first secretary at the Foreign Ministry in Stockholm in 1948 and was secretary in the [Committee on Foreign Affairs](/source/Committee_on_Foreign_Affairs_(parliament_of_Sweden)) in 1950.[1] Malling was then legation counselor and *chargé d'affaires* in [Tel Aviv](/source/Tel_Aviv) in 1953[2] and mediator at the [Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission](/source/Neutral_Nations_Supervisory_Commission) in [Korea](/source/Korea) in 1955.[1]

Malling was appointed envoy in Tel Aviv in 1956 and was ambassador in [Jakarta](/source/Jakarta) and non-resident ambassador in [Manila](/source/Manila) from 1956 to 1959 as well as non-resident ambassador in [Kuala Lumpur](/source/Kuala_Lumpur) from 1958 to 1959. He was then minister at the UN delegation in New York City in 1959 and resident at the representation of UN's technical assistance operations in [Iraq](/source/Iraq) from 1959 to 1961. Malling succeeded [Carl Douglas](/source/Carl_Douglas_(1908%E2%80%931961)) as ambassador in [Rio de Janeiro](/source/Rio_de_Janeiro) in 1961 after Douglas had died in a car accident there on 21 January.[3] He became honorary chairman of the Swedish-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce in 1961.[4] Malling stayed as ambassador there until 1965 before becoming ambassador in [The Hague](/source/The_Hague) in 1966.[2]

## Personal life

Malling had been described by [Jan Mårtenson](/source/Jan_M%C3%A5rtenson) as being a "*chubby, white-haired and blue-eyed bachelor, jovial and humorous, a little of an aging cherub*".[5]

## Death and funeral

Malling died on 25 January 1969 in a hospital in [The Hague](/source/The_Hague). He had surgery for a [thrombosis](/source/Thrombosis) and complications arose after the procedure.[6] On 30 January 1969, Jens Malling was honored with a Dutch state funeral. Central The Hague was closed to traffic for an hour as the cortege made its way to the Walloon Church, where a Swedish service was held by Seamen's Pastor Anders Blomstrand. The ceremony began in the morning with [Queen Juliana](/source/Juliana_of_the_Netherlands)'s adjutant laying a wreath on the Swedish-flag-draped coffin, in the Queen's absence. The procession featured a hearse drawn by four horses, wreaths from King [Gustaf VI Adolf](/source/Gustaf_VI_Adolf), Queen Juliana, and the Dutch government, and a military honor guard of 800 personnel from the navy, army, and air force, accompanied by two military bands.[7]

Ambassador Malling's 90-year-old mother rode closest to the coffin, flanked by Dutch Prime Minister [Piet de Jong](/source/Piet_de_Jong) and Nordic and British ambassadors. Sweden was represented by Baron [Johan Beck-Friis](/source/Johan_Beck-Friis) and other senior officials. Pastor Blomstrand preached from [Paul's First Epistle](/source/Pauline_epistles), and [Deputy State Secretary for Foreign Affairs](/source/State_Secretary_for_Foreign_Affairs_(Sweden)) [Göran Ryding](/source/G%C3%B6ran_Ryding) praised Malling's 30 years of service in the Swedish foreign ministry. After the church ceremony, the coffin was taken to the [Ockenburg](/source/Ockenburg) crematorium, where honors continued with a salute and the [Swedish national anthem](/source/Du_gamla,_du_fria). Baron Beck-Friis expressed Sweden's gratitude for the tributes. Malling had been due to take up the post of Swedish ambassador to [Brussels](/source/Brussels) in a few months.[7]

Malling was interred on 22 March 1969 at the [Northern Cemetery](/source/Northern_Cemetery,_Lund) in [Lund](/source/Lund), Sweden.[8]

## Awards and decorations

- Commander of the [Order of the Polar Star](/source/Order_of_the_Polar_Star) (6 June 1966)[9]
- Knight of the [Order of the Polar Star](/source/Order_of_the_Polar_Star) (1957)[10]
- Commander of the Order of Merit of Argentina (*Orden Al Mérito*)[1]
- Commander of the [Order of the Southern Cross](/source/Order_of_the_Southern_Cross)[1]
- Commander of the [Order of St. Olav](/source/Order_of_St._Olav) (1 July 1953)[11]
- Second Class of the [Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity](/source/Order_of_the_Star_of_Italian_Solidarity)[1]
- Officer of the [Order of Civil Merit](/source/Order_of_Civil_Merit)[1]
- Knight of the [Order of the Aztec Eagle](/source/Order_of_the_Aztec_Eagle) (21 March 1950)[12]

## References

1. [*Vem är vem?*](https://runeberg.org/vemarvem/sthlm62/0913.html) [Who's Who?] (in Swedish). Vol. 1, Stor-Stockholm. 2nd ed. Stockholm: Vem är vem bokförlag. 1962. p. 889.

1. Lagerström, Sten (ed.) (1968). [*Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1969*](https://runeberg.org/vemardet/1969/0657.html) [Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1969] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 641.

1. ["Jens Malling Rio-ambassadör"](https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=VEST19610427.1.1) (in Swedish). *Vestkusten*. No. 17. 27 April 1961. p. 1. Retrieved 30 March 2017.

1. [*Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1964*](https://runeberg.org/statskal/1964/0892.html) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1964. p. 892.

1. Mårtenson, Jan & Öström, Arne (2014). [*Att kyssa ett träd*](https://books.google.com/books?id=qwlhAgAAQBAJ&q=Jens+Malling&pg=PT112) (in Swedish). Wahlström & Widstrand. ISBN 9789146222477.

1. ["Jens Malling död"](https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1969-01-26/SVNY/12) [Jens Malling has died] (in Swedish). *[Svenska Dagbladet](/source/Svenska_Dagbladet)*. 26 January 1969. p. 12. Retrieved 2 March 2023.

1. Thorngren, C.M. (1969-01-31). ["Statsbegravning för Jens Malling"](https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1969-01-31/SVNY/13) [State funeral for Jens Malling] (in Swedish). *[Svenska Dagbladet](/source/Svenska_Dagbladet)*. p. 13. Retrieved 13 August 2025.

1. ["Malling, Jens Henrik Peder Arnold"](https://www.svenskagravar.se/gravsatt/131932180) (in Swedish). *www.svenskargavar.se*. Retrieved 2 March 2023.

1. [*Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1968*](https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstreams/1c812cb9-49e1-499e-ada3-7ec4453a4678/download) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1968. p. 171.

1. [*Sveriges statskalender 1965*](https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstreams/66baf494-15bc-42bc-8b91-e9e6f39358d5/download) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1965. p. 208.

1. ["Tildelinger av ordener og medaljer"](https://www.kongehuset.no/tildelinger.html?tid=28028&sek=27995&q=Malling%2C+J.H.P.A.&type=&aarstall=) [Awards of medals and medals] (in Norwegian). [Royal Court of Norway](/source/Monarchy_of_Norway). Retrieved 2 March 2023.

1. ["Flera svenskar fick mexicansk orden"](https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1950-03-22/SVNY/9) [Several Swedes received Mexican order] (in Swedish). *[Svenska Dagbladet](/source/Svenska_Dagbladet)*. 1950-03-22. p. A9. Retrieved 27 April 2026.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jens Malling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jens_Malling) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jens_Malling?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.