Stemann, Poul Christian

▪ Danish statesman

born April 14, 1764, Copenhagen

died Nov. 25, 1855, Copenhagen

      Danish premier who championed absolute monarchy against the rising tide of liberal reform.

      Trained as a lawyer, Stemann was a large landowner who entered government service in the late 1780s and held such posts as prefect of Sorø County. Earning a reputation as a highly competent administrator, he was appointed to the premiership and to other key positions in 1826 and remained an adamant opponent of reform for the next two decades. He was the closest adviser to the absolutist king Frederick VI and was still very influential with his successor, Christian VIII.

      Hostile to any concession to the liberals, Stemann was, as a large landowner, particularly opposed to the agrarian and political demands of the peasants. He agreed with the nationalistic urban liberals only on the necessity of incorporating the affiliated Duchy of Schleswig into the Danish state. He resigned his premiership during the nationalistic demonstrations of March 1848, when the king capitulated to demands for a popular ministry.

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