Claës Richard Wersäll (17 November 1848 – 19 December 1919)[1] was a Swedish governor and artillery officer. Between 15 March 1895 and 16 July 1897 he served as a Swedish Finance Minister. He was also the governor of Kopparberg County (1893–1901) and Västmanland County (1901–1916). During his career he was awarded the Order of the Polar Star (1895), Order of the Sword (1889), Order of St. Anna and Order of St. Olav.[2]

Claës Wersäll
Minister for Finance
In office
15 March 1895 – 16 July 1897
Prime MinisterErik Gustaf Boström
Preceded byErik Gustaf Boström
Succeeded byHans Hansson Wachtmeister
Personal details
Born17 November 1848
Skara, Sweden
Died19 December 1919 (aged 71)
Enköping, Sweden
Wersäll Family in 1918

Wersäll became an orphan at the age 11, and grew up with his aunt.[3] In 1879 he married Charlotta Wersäll. Among their 11 children, 9 were boys, one was a girl, and one died soon after birth. They were

  • Karl (1881–1945)
  • Ture (1883–1965)
  • Adolf (1885–1963)
  • Gustaf (1887–1973)
  • Claës-Axel (1888–1951)
  • Nils (1890–1939)
  • Elisabeth (1892–1985)
  • Johan (1894–1959)
  • Lars (1898–1952)
  • Otto (1900–1983).

Six of the boys took part in the 1912 Summer Olympics: two as competitors, one as an official, and three as assistants, while another one, Ture, won an Olympic gold medal earlier in 1906. For this unusual achievement, their mother was awarded a special gold medal at the 1912 Games.[4]

In 1914–1915 Wersäll developed a cerebral hemorrhage, which resulted in his deaths in 1919.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ "Wersäll, Claes" in Vem var det? (1944)
  2. ^ "Claës Wersäll" in Hvar 8 dag, (Oct. 1913—Sept. 1914)
  3. ^ a b Liten släkthistoria. wordpress.com
  4. ^ Kap 5 Charlotta Lewenhaupt och Wersällarna. gäddeholmsherrgård.se