Åke Sjölin

{{Infobox person

| name = Åke Sjölin

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name = Åke Magnus Valdemar Sjölin

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1910|8|26|df=y}}

| birth_place = Lindesberg, Sweden

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1999|10|19|1910|8|26|df=y}}

| death_place = Husby-Sjutolft, Sweden

| other_names =

| occupation = Diplomat

| years_active = 1934–1976

| known_for =

| notable_works =

| spouse = {{marriage|Maud Selander|1946}}

| children = 2

| alma_mater = Stockholm University College

}}

Åke Magnus Valdemar Sjölin (26 August 1910 – 19 October 1999) was a Swedish diplomat. Sjölin began his career in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1937 and held diplomatic posts in the United States, Argentina, and Norway before becoming an ambassador in the Middle East in the late 1950s. He later served as ambassador in Africa and Asia, including South Vietnam, where he was Sweden’s last envoy before diplomatic relations changed in 1967. That same year, he became consul general in Berlin, a role he held until 1972, before concluding his career as ambassador to several West African nations from 1972 to 1976.

Early life

Sjölin was born on 26 August 1910 in Lindesberg, Sweden, the son of mayor Magnus Sjölin and his wife Svea (née Rehnvall). He passed studentexamen in Lund in 1928 and received a Candidate of Law degree from Stockholm University College in 1933.

Career

Sjölin completed his clerkship in Linde and Medelstad Judicial District from 1934 to 1936 before joining the Ministry for Foreign Affairs as an attaché in 1937.{{cite book |url=https://runeberg.org/vemarvem/sthlm62/1208.html |editor1-last=Harnesk |editor1-first=Paul |date=1962 |title=Vem är vem? |volume=1, Stor-Stockholm |trans-title=Who's Who? |edition=2nd |location=Stockholm |publisher=Vem är vem bokförlag |language=sv |id={{SELIBR|53509}} |page=1184}} He was posted to Chicago in 1938, Washington, D.C. in 1939, and Buenos Aires in 1942. In 1943, he became second legation secretary in Buenos Aires and was later appointed first secretary at the Foreign Ministry in 1945. He was promoted to director (byråchef) in 1950 and served as embassy counsellor in Oslo from 1952 to 1957.

Sjölin was then appointed ambassador to Beirut, Damascus, and Amman from 1957 to 1958, and subsequently to Beirut and Amman from 1958 to 1960. From 1960 to 1964, he served as ambassador to Addis Ababa and Khartoum, while also representing Sweden in Mogadishu and Antananarivo from 1961 to 1964.{{cite book |url=https://runeberg.org/vemardet/1993/0998.html |editor1-last=Uddling |editor1-first=Hans |editor2-last=Paabo |editor2-first=Katrin |year=1992 |title=Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1993 |trans-title=Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1993 |location=Stockholm |publisher=Norstedt |isbn=91-1-914072-X |language=sv |id={{SELIBR|8261513}} |page=998}}

He then moved to Asia, serving as ambassador to Bangkok, Rangoon, Kuala Lumpur, and Saigon from 1964 to 1967, with additional responsibilities in Vientiane (1965–1967) and Singapore (1966–1967). In 1967, Sjölin became Sweden’s last ambassador to South Vietnam, as the Swedish government chose not to seek agrément for a successor due to its stance on the Saigon regime.{{cite news |url=http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=VEST19670427.1.1 |newspaper=Vestkusten |title=Sverige drar in sin Saigon-ackreditering |trans-title=Sweden withdraws its Saigon accreditation |location=San Francisco & Oakland, Cal |page=1 |number=17 |id={{LIBRIS|4085814}} |date=27 April 1967 |access-date=21 July 2016 |language=sv}}

Later that year, he was appointed consul general in Berlin, a position he held until 1972. He then served as ambassador to Rabat, Nouakchott, Dakar, and Banjul from 1972 to 1976.

Personal life

In 1946, Sjölin married Maud Selander (1921–2018), the daughter of managing director Hjalmar Selander and Märta (née Russel). He is the father of the professor of medical psychology at the Karolinska Institutet, {{ill|Åsa Nilsonne|sv|Åsa Nilsonne|no|Åsa Nilsonne|fi|Åsa Nilsonne|de|Åsa Nilsonne}} (born 1949) and Magnus Sjölin (1952–2018).

After retiring, Sjölin moved back home to Sweden and to the town of Grillby.

Death

Sjölin died on 19 October 1999 in {{ill|Husby-Sjutolft Parish|sv|Husby-Sjutolfts församling}} in Enköping Municipality, Uppsala County.{{cite book |title=Sveriges dödbok 1860-2016 |trans-title=Swedish death index 1860-2016 |edition=Version 7.10 |year=2017 |publisher=Sveriges släktforskarförbund |language=sv |isbn=978-91-88341-15-0 |id={{LIBRIS|22365549}}}} He was interred on 3 May 2000 at {{ill|Husby-Sjutolft Church|lt=Husby-Sjutolft Cemetery|sv|Husby-Sjutolfts kyrka}}.{{cite web |url=https://svenskagravar.se/gravsatt/016e3a93-35fd-4958-bc0a-3594ad81351a |website=www.svenskagravar.se |title=Sjölin, Åke Magnus Valdemar |access-date=5 March 2025 |language=sv}}

Awards and decorations

50px {{flagicon|Sweden}} Knight of the Order of the Polar Star
50px {{flagicon|Jordan}} Grand Cordon of the Order of Independence
50px {{flagicon|Lebanon}} Grand Cordon of the National Order of the Cedar
50px {{flagicon|Chile}} Commander of the Order of Merit
50px {{flagicon|Mexico}} Commander of the Order of the Aztec Eagle
50px {{flagicon|Norway}} Commander of the Order of St. Olav
50px {{flagicon|Spain}} Commander of the Order of Isabella the Catholic
50px {{flagicon|Brazil}} Officer of the Order of the Southern Cross
{{flagicon|Ethiopian Empire}} Ethiopian Red Cross Medal

References

{{s-start-collapsible|header={{S-dip}}}}

{{Succession box |title=Envoy of Sweden to Lebanon |before=Brynolf Eng |years=1957–1960 |after=Gösta Brunnström}}

{{Succession box |title=Envoy of Sweden to Syria |before=Brynolf Eng |years=1957–1958 |after={{no wrap|Gösta Brunnström (from 1960)}}}}

{{Succession box |title=Ambassador of Sweden to Jordan |before=None |years=1957–1960 |after=Gösta Brunnström}}

{{Succession box |title=Ambassador of Sweden to Ethiopia |before=Eyvind Bratt |years=1960–1964 |after=Erland Kleen}}

{{Succession box |title=Ambassador of Sweden to Sudan |before=Eyvind Bratt |years=1960–1964 |after=Erland Kleen}}

{{Succession box |title=Ambassador of Sweden to Madagascar |before=None |years=1961–1964 |after=Erland Kleen}}

{{Succession box |title=Ambassador of Sweden to Somalia |before=None |years=1961–1964 |after=Adolf Croneborg}}

{{Succession box |title=Ambassador of Sweden to Thailand |before=Tord Hagen |years=1964–1967 |after=Axel Lewenhaupt}}

{{Succession box |title=Ambassador of Sweden to Burma |before=Tord Hagen |years=1964–1967 |after=Axel Lewenhaupt}}

{{Succession box |title=Ambassador of Sweden to Malaysia |before=Louis De Geer |years=1964–1967 |after=Axel Lewenhaupt}}

{{Succession box |title=Ambassador of Sweden to South Vietnam |before=Tord Hagen |years=1964–1967 |after=None}}

{{Succession box |title=Ambassador of Sweden to Laos |before=None |years=1965–1967 |after=Axel Lewenhaupt}}

{{Succession box |title=Ambassador of Sweden to Singapore |before=None |years=1966–1967 |after=Axel Lewenhaupt}}

{{Succession box |title=Consul general of Sweden in Berlin |before=Sven Backlund |years=1967–1972 |after=Carl Bergenstråhle}}

{{Succession box |title=Ambassador of Sweden to Morocco |before=Lars von Celsing |years=1972–1976 |after=Knut Bernström}}

{{Succession box |title=Ambassador of Sweden to Mauritania |before=Lars von Celsing |years=1972–1976 |after=Knut Bernström}}

{{Succession box |title=Ambassador of Sweden to Senegal |before=Lars von Celsing |years=1972–1976 |after=Knut Bernström}}

{{Succession box |title=Ambassador of Sweden to The Gambia |before=Lars von Celsing |years=1972–1976 |after=Knut Bernström}}

Category:1910 births

Category:1999 deaths

Category:Consuls-general of Sweden

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Lebanon

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Syria

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Jordan

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Ethiopia

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Sudan

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Somalia

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Madagascar

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Thailand

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Myanmar

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Malaysia

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Vietnam

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Laos

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Singapore

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Morocco

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Mauritania

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Senegal

Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to the Gambia

Category:People from Lindesberg Municipality

Category:Knights of the Order of the Polar Star

Category:Stockholm University alumni