Gunnar Dryselius
{{Short description|Swedish diplomat (1907–1982)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Gunnar Dryselius
| image = Gunnar Daniel Dryselius.jpg
| caption =
| birth_name = Gunnar Daniel Dryselius
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1907|5|2|df=y}}
| birth_place = Sundsvall, Sweden
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1982|9|16|1907|5|2|df=y}}
| death_place = Cascais, Portugal
| other_names =
| occupation = Diplomat
| years_active = 1933–1970
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| spouse = {{marriage|Anna af Petersens|1935|}}
| children = 3
| alma_mater = Uppsala University
Stockholm University College
}}
Gunnar Daniel Dryselius (2 May 1907 – 16 September 1982) was a Swedish diplomat. Dryselius began his diplomatic career in 1933 and held early postings in London, Prague, and Buenos Aires, where he played a crucial role in securing vital supplies for Sweden during World War II. In 1944, he returned to Stockholm to lead the Latin American Bureau, planning the postwar resumption of trade with South and Central America. After a brief mission in Gdańsk, he spent over a decade in the United States, notably as consul general in Houston, where he promoted Swedish industry and culture in a rapidly growing region. From 1958 to 1963, he served as envoy in Venezuela and later as ambassador to Portugal during a period of diplomatic tension over Sweden’s support for African independence movements. Despite propaganda attacks and internal criticism, Dryselius handled these challenges with composure and tact, earning the respect even of Portuguese leaders. He retired from active service in 1970.
Early life
Dryselius was born on 2 May 1907, in Sundsvall, Sweden, the son of district clerk (häradsskrivare) Victor Dryselius and his wife Augusta (née Mattsson). He completed his secondary education in Örebro in 1926, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Uppsala University in 1928, and received a Candidate of Law degree from Stockholm University College in 1933.{{cite book |url=https://runeberg.org/vemarvem/sthlm62/0316.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=292}}
Career
Dryselius began his diplomatic career as an attaché at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1933. He was soon posted to London in 1934, then to Prague from 1935 to 1936, and served as chargé d'affaires in Buenos Aires during 1937–1938 and again from 1939 to 1940. He was appointed second secretary there in 1940 and remained until 1944.{{cite book |url=https://runeberg.org/vemardet/1981/0243.html |title=Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1981 |trans-title=Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1981 |year=1980 |publisher=Norstedt |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=91-1-805012-3 |id={{SELIBR|3681525}} |page=223}} While in Buenos Aires, Dryselius played a key role in securing vital imports for Sweden, which was cut off by the war, using neutral shipping routes from South America.{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1982-09-21/18/SVD |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Gunnar Dryselius död. Röjde mark för svensk industri och kultur |trans-title=Death of Gunnar Dryselius. Cleared ground for Swedish industry and culture |first=Erland |last=Kleen |first2=Sven Fredrik |last2=Hedin |page=18 (16) |date=1982-09-21 |access-date=14 April 2025 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}} In 1944, during the final year of the war, he returned to Stockholm as first secretary at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. He was appointed head of the newly established Latin American Bureau in the Trade Department, tasked with planning the resumption of Sweden’s trade relations with South and Central America as soon as westbound routes reopened.
After a brief assignment in Gdańsk in 1945—where he was sent to ensure that essential coal deliveries from Poland to Swedish industry were fulfilled—he was appointed director (byråchef) at the ministry in 1946. That same year, he was posted once more to the United States, where he remained for over a decade. He served first as consul in New York City in 1947, and from 1950 to 1958, as consul and head of the newly established trade consulate in Houston, Texas—an initiative proposed by Ambassador Erik Boheman. He was granted the title of Consul General in 1953. In this role, which covered the rapidly growing Texas region and surrounding states, Dryselius made a pioneering contribution. Through trade fairs, exhibitions of Swedish products, and public lectures on Sweden at universities, chambers of commerce, Rotary clubs, and more, he successfully raised Sweden’s profile in an increasingly important region for both Swedish industry and cultural exchange.
From 1958 to 1963, he served as envoy in Caracas, Venezuela, with dual accreditation to Havana, Port-au-Prince, and Santo Domingo.{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/64768/gupea_2077_64768_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |title=Sveriges statskalender 1963 |year=1963 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Uppsala |language=sv |pages=302, 304, 311}} Dryselius was then appointed ambassador to Portugal, serving from 1964 to 1970 during a tense period marked by Sweden’s outspoken support for African independence movements against Portuguese colonial rule. His time in Lisbon was defined by rising tensions with the Portuguese regime, which responded with aggressive propaganda portraying Sweden as neo-colonial and morally decadent. Dryselius diplomatically countered this narrative, filing formal complaints and maintaining professional composure despite receiving offensive anonymous letters.{{cite journal |url=https://www.historisktidskrift.se/index.php/june20/article/download/149/112/267 |journal=Historisk tidskrift |publisher=Svenska historiska föreningen |location=Stockholm |title=De svensk-portugisiska relationerna 1965–1972: En ny diplomatisk historia |first=Oscar |last=Nygren |volume=141 |number=1 |year=2021 |access-date=14 April 2025 |language=sv |id={{LIBRIS|8261328}} |pages=69-70, 73, 75}}
He also faced criticism from Sweden for following diplomatic protocol, such as visiting dictator Salazar in hospital, and for handling sensitive aid shipments. Despite occasional disagreements with the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Dryselius was tactful and cautious in expressing his concerns, often using irony or posing rhetorical questions. His diplomatic skill earned respect even from Portuguese Prime Minister Marcelo Caetano, who acknowledged that crises had been mitigated thanks to Dryselius' personal conduct.
He was placed on reserve in 1970, concluding his active diplomatic career.
Personal life
Death
Dryselius was afflicted by an illness during his time in the United States—one that would cast a long shadow over the rest of his professional life and ultimately claim it. He died on 16 May 1982. His funeral was held on 28 September 1982, at Solna Old Church in Stockholm.{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1982-09-21/18/SVD |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Döda |trans-title=Deaths |editor-first=Lennart |editor-last=Keiller |page=18 (16) |date=1982-09-21 |access-date=14 April 2025 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}} He was buried on 14 October 1982, at Nikolai Cemetery in Örebro.{{cite web |url=https://www.svenskagravar.se/search?query=Gunnar+Dryselius&parishId=&cemeteryId=&graveNumber=&birthDate=&deathDate=&burialDate= |website=www.svenskagravar.se |title=Dryselius, Gunnar Daniel |access-date=14 April 2025 |language=sv}}
Awards and decorations
- 50px {{flagicon|Sweden}} Commander 1st Class of the Order of the Polar Star (11 November 1966){{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/65026/gupea_2077_65026_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |title=Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1968 |year=1968 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Uppsala |language=sv |page=157}}
- 50px {{flagicon|Sweden}} Commander of the Order of the Polar Star (10 November 1962){{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/65027/gupea_2077_65027_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |title=Sveriges statskalender 1965 |year=1965 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Uppsala |language=sv |page=148}}
- 50px {{flagicon|Sweden}} Knight of the Order of the Polar Star (1949){{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/64656/gupea_2077_64656_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |title=Sveriges statskalender 1961 |year=1961 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Uppsala |language=sv |page=81}}
- 50px {{flagicon|Portugal}} Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry (16 May 1975){{cite web |url=https://www.ordens.presidencia.pt/?idc=154&list=1 |publisher=Grand Master of Portuguese Honorary Orders |title=ENTIDADES ESTRANGEIRAS AGRACIADAS COM ORDENS PORTUGUESAS |trans-title=FOREIGN ENTITIES AWARDED WITH PORTUGUESE ORDERS |access-date=14 April 2025 |language=pt}}
- 50px {{flagicon|Argentina}} Commander of the Order of May
- 50px {{flagicon|Denmark}} Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog
- 50px {{flagicon|Mexico}} Sash of the Order of the Aztec Eagle
- 50px {{flagicon|Czechoslovakia}} Knight of the Order of the White Lion
References
{{Reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-dip}}
{{succession box |before=None |title=Consul/Consul General of Sweden to Houston |years=1949–1957 |after=Karl Henrik Andersson}}
{{succession box |before=Carl-Herbert Borgenstierna |title=Envoy/Ambassador of Sweden to Venezuela |years=1958–1963 |after=Knut Bernström}}
{{succession box |before=Carl-Herbert Borgenstierna |title=Envoy of Sweden to Haiti |years=1958–1963 |after=Knut Bernström}}
{{succession box |before=Carl-Herbert Borgenstierna |title=Envoy of Sweden to the Dominican Republic |years=1958–1963 |after=Knut Bernström}}
{{succession box |before=Carl-Herbert Borgenstierna |title=Envoy of Sweden to Cuba |years=1958–1963 |after=Tord Göransson}}
{{succession box |before=Alexis Aminoff |title=Ambassador of Sweden to Portugal |years=1964–1970 |after=Karl Fredrik Almqvist}}
{{s-end}}
{{Auth}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dryselius, Gunnar}}
Category:Consuls-general of Sweden
Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Venezuela
Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Haiti
Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to the Dominican Republic
Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Cuba
Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to Portugal
Category:People from Sundsvall
Category:Uppsala University alumni