Johan Peringskiöld

Who was Johan Peringskiöld?

Johan Peringskiöld was a Swedish antiquarian. He was born in Strängnäs, and died in Stockholm.

His father was Lars Fredrik Peringer, a senior master at the gymnasium and his mother Anna Maria Mulich. He began his studies at Uppsala University in 1677 and he was an ardent student of the national antiquities. In 1680, he received a position at the newly established college of antiquities. He advanced to the position of clerk at the college in 1682, and he could then accompany Johan Hadorph on scientific excursions in the countryside, during which he listed and made drawings of runestones, hill forts, grave fields and other prehistoric monuments.

In 1689, he was appointed deputy judge, and in 1693, he was knighted and received the name Peringskiöld as a sign of his nobility. In 1693, he was also appointed secretary of the college of antiquities, a task which was added to his work as a translator of Icelandic sources. In 1711, he left the work as translator to his son Johan Fredrik Peringskiöld, and in 1719, he applied to be removed from his offices. The request was granted and he received instead the title of chancellor, and the following year, he died.