Maren Sars
{{Short description| Norwegian socialite (1811–1898)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Maren Sars
| image = No-nb bldsa 1b030.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| birth_name = Maren Cathrine Welhaven
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1811|08|11}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1898|12|27|1811|08|11}}
| birth_place = Bergen, Norway
| death_place = Norway
| education =
| spouse = Michael Sars
| children = 14, including:
Ernst Sars
Georg Ossian Sars
Eva Nansen
| relatives = Johan Sebastian Welhaven {{small|(brother)}}
Elisabeth Welhaven {{small|(sister)}}
Hjalmar Welhaven {{small|(nephew)}}
Kristian Welhaven {{small|(nephew)}}
Odd Nansen {{small|(grandson)}}
| occupation = Socialite
| awards =
| signature =
}}
Maren Cathrine Sars (née Welhaven; 17 August 1811 – 27 December 1898) was a Norwegian socialite.
Personal life
She was born in Bergen as a daughter of priest Johan Ernst Welhaven (1775–1828) and Else Margrethe Cammermeyer (1785–1853), the daughter of Johan Sebastian Cammermeyer . She was a sister of Johan Sebastian and Elisabeth "Lise" Welhaven.{{cite encyclopedia|title=Maren Sars|encyclopedia=Norsk biografisk leksikon|first=Else|last=Boye|editor=Helle, Knut|editor-link=Knut Helle|publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget|location=Oslo|url=http://www.snl.no/.nbl_biografi/Maren_Sars/utdypning |language=Norwegian|accessdate=31 January 2010}}
In August 1831 in Bergen she married priest and professor Michael Sars (1805–1869). They had several notable children; historian Ernst Sars, zoologist Georg Ossian Sars and singer Eva Nansen. She had a total of fourteen children, nine of whom reached adulthood. Through Eva she was the mother-in-law of Fridtjof Nansen, and through another daughter Mally she was the mother-in-law of Thorvald Lammers.{{cite encyclopedia |title=Thorvald Lammers|encyclopedia=Norsk biografisk leksikon|first=Svein|last=Bjørkøy|editor=Helle, Knut|editor-link=Knut Helle|publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget |location=Oslo|url=http://www.snl.no/.nbl_biografi/Thorvald_Lammers/utdypning|language=Norwegian |accessdate=31 January 2010 }} She was also an aunt of Hjalmar and Kristian Welhaven.
Career
She grew up in Bergen, and after marrying she moved to Kinn and Manger where her husband was a vicar. In 1854 the family moved to Christiania where her husband had become professor.
The family home became a notable meeting place for liberal and intellectual citizens of Norway's capital. It has been called "Christiania's first salon".{{cite encyclopedia|title=Maren Sars|encyclopedia=Store norske leksikon |first=Jon Gunnar |last=Arntzen |editor=Henriksen, Petter|publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget|location=Oslo|url=http://www.snl.no/Maren_Sars|language=Norwegian|accessdate=31 January 2010}} Among the people who gathered here Ola Thommessen, Lars Holst, Oda Krohg, Mathilde Schjøtt,{{cite book|last=Sørensen|first=Øystein|author-link=Øystein Sørensen|title=1880–årene. Ti år som rystet Norge|publisher=Universitetsforlaget|location=Oslo|date=1984|page=84|isbn=82-00-06966-4|language=Norwegian}} Hartvig Lassen{{cite encyclopedia|title=Elisabeth Welhaven|encyclopedia=Norsk biografisk leksikon|first=Elisabeth|last=Aasen|editor=Helle, Knut|editor-link=Knut Helle|publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget|location=Oslo|url=http://www.snl.no/.nbl_biografi/Elisabeth_Welhaven/utdypning |language=Norwegian|accessdate=31 January 2010}} and Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson. Mally and Eva provided music and song. Her sons Ernst and Ossian even lived with her after Michael died in 1869. Also, her sister Elisabeth lived with her for many years; she was a talented writer and storyteller. Maren Sars contributed with storytelling and being the hostess.
She died in December 1898 from when her heart quit beating. After her death, Maren's daughter Eva, who was married to Fridtjof Nansen, took over the role as hostess for the city's intellectuals, who gathered at their home Godthaab and later Polhøgda.{{cite encyclopedia |title=Eva Nansen |encyclopedia=Norsk biografisk leksikon|first=Inger Elisabeth |last=Haavet |editor=Helle, Knut|editor-link=Knut Helle|publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget |location=Oslo|url=http://www.snl.no/.nbl_biografi/Eva_Nansen/utdypning |language=Norwegian |accessdate=31 January 2010 }}
References
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