Ingvald Smith-Kielland

Who was Ingvald Smith-Kielland?

Ingvald Marillus Emil Smith-Kielland was a Norwegian military officer, diplomat, sports official and royal servant.

He was born in Egge as the son of Colonel Ingvald Mareno Smith-Kielland and Ragnhild Johanne Duborgh. He was a brother of painter Per Smith-Kielland. Through his grandmother Maren Elisabeth Bull Kielland, he was a first cousin once removed of people like Alexander Kielland.

He finished his secondary education in 1908, and graduated from the Norwegian Military Academy in 1911 and the Norwegian Military College in 1913. After some years in the military he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1920, where he helped to negotiate Norwegian fishing rights near Eastern Greenland. He also negotiated with Spain and Portugal when these wine-exporting countries complained about the prohibition in Norway, in effect since the prohibition referendum of 1919. The temperance movement had won the referendum; and Smith-Kielland had been a part of this movement, but he withdrew due to the difficult situation for Norway. Somewhat due to the pressure of Spain and Portugal, the prohibition was lifted after a new referendum in 1926.