Georg Prahl Harbitz

Who was Georg Prahl Harbitz?

Georg Prahl Harbitz was a Norwegian priest and politician.

He was born in Haus to innkeeper Nils Harbitz and his wife Elisabet Christine Ibsen. His father died when Georg was eight years old, and he was eventually sent to the wealthy family Prahl in Bergen for upbringing. Here, he was inspired to undertake academic studies. He graduated as cand.theol. in 1825, and was assigned, by the Church of Norway, the post as vicar in Askevold in Nordre Bergenhus Amt.

He became involved in politics, and when local government was introduced in Norway, Harbitz served as the first mayor of Askevold municipality. He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1836 and 1839, representing the constituency of Nordre Bergenhus Amt. From the start he was known as peasant-friendly, a political current which began making its mark in Parliament from 1830. He was conservative in Constitutional matters.

He left Askevold in 1839, his wife having died the same year. He was assigned the position of vicar in Slidre, in Christians Amt. While stationed here, he was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1842 and 1845.