Gustaf Svanberg the Younger

1839-1909.

Lawyer, politician.

Gustaf Svanberg was born in Uppsala in 1819, the son of Gustaf (the astronomer) and Fredrika Svanberg. Later in life he became mayor and active in municipal politics in Gothenburg. Svanberg was also elected as a member of the second chamber of the Riksdag.

The tombstone that adorns the Svanberg Burial site is one of the most eye-catching in the Old Cemetery. The allegorical female figure in bronze is called "Sorrow" and was made by sculptress Sigrid Blomberg. A similar sculpture adorns Carl Wijk's family grave at Östra Cemetery in Gothenburg.

 

Burial site: 0109-0461B

Image description: Portrait of Gustaf Svanberg, 1910 Photo: Unknown photographer / Wikimedia Commons. [The image is cropped]
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Gustaf Svanberg the Elder

1802-1882.

Astronomer.

Gustaf Svanberg was born in Botilsäter in Värmland and became a student in Uppsala in 1819. He first studied classical languages, but switched to mathematics and astronomy and was professor of astronomy 1842-1875.

Between 1833-1835 Svanberg studied earth magnetism in Germany. As a member of parliament, Svanberg succeeded in obtaining funding for a modern observatory in Uppsala, which was built in the area between Rackarbacken and the old fjärdingstullen, the area now known as Observatorieparken.

The observatory ca 1860 and the avenue.
Photo: Artist Eric Österlund (1812-1907) / UUB.

The Observatory neighborhood before 1890, view from the north.
Photo: Henri Osti / UUB.

The observatory was completed and inaugurated in 1853 and received its first main instrument, a 24 cm refractor from Steinheil in Munich. It was replaced in 1893 by the double refractor (36/33 cm) that is still in the main dome of the observatory.

Gustaf Svanberg organized regular meteorological observations from 1865. The Department of Meteorology moved to the Ångström Laboratory in 2000, but the "Old Observatory", as it is called, is still used by amateur astronomers and for public displays.

 

Burial site: 0109-0461B

Image description: Portrait of Gustaf Svanberg, ca 1870-1880. Photo: Henri Osti / UUBThe image is cropped]
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Egmont Tornberg

1891-1951.

Colonel, aviation pioneer.

Egmont Tornberg was born in 1891 in Rytterne and later in life became a second lieutenant in the navy in 1914, a lieutenant in 1917 and took up flying in 1918.

He joined the Air Force when it was formed in 1926 and in the same year, as a captain, he set an altitude record for seaplanes. The altitude record was set at 5731 meters with a Heinkel with 500 kg load (equivalent to combat load). The record was duly approved by the International Federation and surpassed the previous record by 700 meters.

In 1928, Egmont was in charge of the Swedish rescue expedition of survivors from the Italian airship Italia north of Spitsbergen. He showed impressive leadership during two months of severe material and personal strain under very difficult and rapidly changing weather conditions with risky flying over the Arctic Ocean, ice drift and dense fog.

Part of the rescue team with Tornberg in the middle.
Photo: From private collection.

From the Italia action in 1928.
Photo: From private collection.

Later in life Tornberg was commander of F 1, Jämtland Air Base F 4 and Norrbotten Air Base F 21.

In 1940 Tornberg became a colonel and eleven years later he died at the age of 59, the last of the naval aviators who had begun their flying careers in 1917.

 

Burial site: 0115-0811B

Image description: Portrait photograph of Egmont Tornberg, commander of the Western Air Base Area 1943-1946. Signed, framed photo. Photo: Unknown photographer / Air Force Museum. [The image is cropped]
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Hjalmar Söderberg

1859-1933.

Manufacturer, entrepreneur.

In 1885, the merchant Hjalmar Söderberg opened a yarn, sewing accessories and fabric shop in the courtyard of Vaksalagatan 13 (where the City Hall is today).

The business developed and moved to larger premises at Vaksalagatan 15 and already in the 1890s the production of woolen fabrics and clothing began. The industrial operations moved in 1896 to Dragarbrunnsgatan 65 (corner Dragarbrunnsgatan-Kålsängsgränd) and the company developed into the largest in the clothing industry in Uppsala and one of the largest in Sweden.

Söderberg's shop at Vaksalagatan 15, around 1901-1902. Photo: Alfred Dahlgren / Upplandsmuseet.

Interior of Söderberg's shop. The picture is published in Upsala Nya Tidning April 29, 1933. Photo: Paul Sandberg / Upplandsmuseet.

In 1907, a special company was formed for the clothing business under the name AB Hjalmar Söderberg. His son Erik Söderberg took over the management of the company in 1933 and in the 1940s the number of employees in the company, which then had branch factories in Lövstabruk and Örbyhus, amounted to between 500-600 people.

Hjalmar Söderberg's wife Elin (1861-1933) was honored by her son with a sculpture of a woman that adorns the grave. The sculpture was made by the artist Arvid Knöppel and illustrates the biblical passage in Psalm. 126:5 "They that sow with tears shall reap with joy. They go forth weeping, bearing their seed; they return rejoicing, bearing their sheaves."

 

Burial site: 0131-1366

Image description: Factory owner Hjalmar Söderberg, Uppsala 1903. Photo: Anders Larsson / UUBThe image is cropped]
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Carl Wolrath

1863-1926.

Ironmonger, entrepreneur.

Carl Wolrath was born in Eksjö. Later in life he moved to Uppsala and was employed at Öberg's hardware store at Svartbäcksgatan 16 (the store later moved to no. 21).

Wolrath married the merchant's daughter in 1894 and later took over the business in 1901. The shop was then named Wolrath & Co. In 1941, the firm moved a little closer to Stora Torget to Svartbäcksgatan 14.

AB Wolrath & Co, Svartbäcksgatan, Uppsala, August 1940. Photo: Paul Sandberg / Upplandsmuseet.

AB Wolrath & Co's hardware store at Svartbäcksgatan 14, Uppsala, November 1941. Photo: Paul Sandberg / Upplandsmuseet.

Wolrath was a member of the city council between 1905 and 1922, and was elected to the county council in 1919.

 

Burial site: 0138-1556

Image description: Carl Wolrath, Uppsala 1905. Photo: Heinrich Osti / UUBThe image is cropped]
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Anders Strandberg

1862-1930.

Traders, entrepreneurs.

Anders Strandberg came to Uppsala at the age of 13 and started working as a messenger.

In 1885, Strandberg started a haberdashery shop at Stora Torget. The shop was later moved to the corner building (built in 1905) on Drottninggatan in the so-called Strandbergska huset. The building was the first in the city with an elevator, central heating and electricity. In the same year, Strandberg, who was socially and technically interested, promoted an electricity plant for the city.

Stora torget in Uppsala 1901-1902, view towards Kungsängsgatan. At the time of the photograph, the building housed Anders Strandberg's haberdashery. The corner plot was owned and developed by Olof Rudbeck the Elder. It housed a post office until 1715. The houses were demolished in 1934. Photo: Alfred Dahlgren / UUB.

Stora torget with the Strandbergska house (built in 1905) to the right, April 29, 1911. On this occasion, the Swedish Week was celebrated as a manifestation to promote Swedish industry. Photo: Unknown photographer / UUB.

Strandberg was a member of the city council from 1899 to 1930, an executive member of the county council from 1916 to 1928, and also a county councillor and member of the hospital board at Uppsala University Hospital. He was also a member of the Civic Elders.

 

Burial site: 0102-0123

Image description: Anders Strandberg, Uppsala, 1897. Photo: Heinrich Osti / UUB.The image is cropped] Public domain
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Adolf Noreen

1854-1925.

Linguists.

Adolf Noreen was born in Östra Ämtervik in Värmland and defended his thesis Fryksdalsmålets ljudlära in 1877. The thesis deals with the dialect from his homeland and was the first dialect description based on scientific principles.

Noreen published handbooks on language history, for example on Old Icelandic in Altisländische Grammatik (1884) and on Old Swedish in Altschwedische Grammatik (1904).

In his major work Vårt språk (1903-1924) he sets out his basic view of language and presents a blueprint for grammar. Noreen was also one of the driving forces behind the spelling reform of 1906.

Between 1887-1919 Adolf Noreen was professor of Nordic languages, was elected member of the Academy of Sciences in 1902, member of the Academy of Sciences in 1917 and became member of the Swedish Academy in 1919.

Together with Johan August Lundell, he founded Upsala Enskilda Läroverk (now Lundellska Skolan) in 1892.

 

Burial site: 0115-0823

Image description: Adolf Noreen, Uppsala ca 1880-ca 1890. Photo: Heinrich Osti / UUBThe image is cropped]
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Topper Martyn

1923-2004

Artist, juggler

Victor Clifton Martyn, known as Topper Martyn, was born in England and was a juggler and illusionist. In the 1960s Martyn settled in Uppsala with his wife.

Topper Martyn made his stage debut in 1938 as a juggler and had a mixed program of juggling, comedy and magic. Martyn received several honors and awards for his artistry. In 1970 he became world champion in comic magic in Amsterdam.

In 1996 Martyn was honored with the English Carlton Comedy Prize. He has received the French Mandrake d'or award and a gold medal from Asahi Television (Japan).

In addition to performing in 30 different countries, he played the role of the magician in the children's musical Alfons och trollkarlen, based on Gunilla Bergström's book Hokus Pokus Alfons Åberg. Topper Martyn also appeared in TV productions, such as SVT's Christmas calendar from 1984 - Julstrul med Staffan & Bengt.

 

Burial site: 0406-0001 (Memorial grove in the Old Cemetery)

Image description: Topper Martyn, year unknown. Photo: Swedish Magic Archive. [The image is cropped]
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Robert Fredrik von Kræmer

1791-1880.

County Governor, Member of Parliament.

Robert Fredrik von Kræmer came from Häme in Finland and took part as an officer in the campaign to Germany in 1813 and to Norway in 1814.

He was governor of Uppsala from 1830 to 1862 and, as head of the county, was an undisputed central figure and took a number of important initiatives. Communications were improved through road building, bridge building, dredging of sailing routes and the establishment of steamship companies.

Kræmer also initiated the founding of Ultuna Agricultural Institute and the establishment of Sweden's first cooperative trade in Örsundsbro in 1850.

Kræmer also played a significant role in the development of the city of Uppsala. The city park, the promenade at Flustret and Västgötaspången were created with his help and he was known for his tree plantings, which were mentioned in Gunnar Wennerberg's Gluntarne:

"My goodness, that Kræmer is good for the city. He builds bridges and plants trees."

 

Burial site: 0156-0249

Image description: Robert Fredrik von Kræmer, Stockholm, ca 1870. Photo: W.A Eurenius & P.L Quist / UUBThe image is cropped]
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Cristopher Jacob Boström

1797-1866.

Philosopher.

Christopher Jacob Boström was born in Piteå and became a student in Uppsala in 1815.

From 1842 to 1863, he was professor of practical philosophy in Uppsala and was Sweden's most influential philosopher in the 19th century. He built up a metaphysical system with roots in German and Swedish idealism. Boström was a persuasive lecturer and excelled in speeches.

Boström's so-called rational idealism, with its strong emphasis on the individual's duties in a moral and rational society, came to exert a profound influence on thinking in Sweden in the latter half of the 19th century.

Boströmianism, named after its originator, was the only original philosophical system to emerge in Sweden in the 19th century and, through Boström's disciples, came to dominate Swedish university philosophy throughout the latter part of the 19th century.

His disciples included Sigurd Ribbing, Yngve Sahlin and Axel Nyblaeus. Boström's niece is Ebba Boström, founder of the Samaritan Home. She is also buried in the Old Cemetery.

 

Burial site: 0119-0995

Image description: Christopher Jacob Boström, 1865. Photo: Litografiskt allehanda, fifth edition. Sigrid Flodin's publishing house. / Wikimedia Commons. [The image is cropped]
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