Michael Birkeland

{{Short description|Norwegian jurist and historian (1830–1896)}}

{{Use dmy dates | date=December 2024}}

{{Infobox person

|name = Michael Birkeland

|image = File:Michael Birkeland, ca. 1880-1890, foto Ludwik Szacinski de Ravics, Oslo Museum, OB.F03383C.jpg

|image_size =

|alt = Portrait of Michael Birkeland

|caption =

|birth_name =

|birth_date = {{Birth date|1830|12|16|df=y}}

|birth_place = Eigersund, Norway

|death_date = {{Death date and age|1896|5|24|1830|12|16|df=y}}

|death_place =

|nationality = Norwegian

|occupation = Historian
Civil servant (Riksarkivar)
Politician

| spouse =

| children =

| parents =

| relatives =

|known_for = Co-founded the Norwegian Historical Association (1869)
Edited Historisk Tidsskrift (1869–1879)
Member of the Storting

|notable_works=

|awards = Order of St. Olav

}}

Michael Birkeland (16 December 1830{{spaced ndash}}24 May 1896) was a Norwegian historian, civil servant and politician.{{cite encyclopedia|title=Michael Birkeland |encyclopedia=Store norske leksikon|editor-last=Godal | editor-first=Anne Marit | editor-link=Anne Marit Godal |publisher=Norsk nettleksikon |location=Oslo |url=http://www.snl.no/Michael_Birkeland |language=Norwegian |accessdate=29 June 2014}}

He was born at Eigersund in Rogaland, Norway. In 1855, he was awarded his cand. jur. at the University of Christiania (now University of Oslo). In 1852, he became an assistant in the National Archives of Norway (Riksarkivet). In 1863, he took over the position of national archivist.{{cite web|url= https://snl.no/Riksarkivet|title= Riksarkivet|publisher = Store norske leksikon|accessdate= January 1, 2017 }}

He co-founded the Norwegian Historical Association in 1869, and edited the academic journal Historisk Tidsskrift from 1869 to 1879. He was a member of the Storting from 1880 to 1885. He was decorated Knight of the Order of St. Olav in 1875.

{{cite encyclopedia|year=|title=Michael Birkeland |encyclopedia=Norsk biografisk leksikon|first=Ola |last=Bjerkås |authorlink= |editor=Helle, Knut |publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget|location=Oslo |url=http://www.snl.no/.nbl_biografi/Michael_Birkeland/utdypning |language=Norwegian|accessdate=29 June 2014}}