Erik Gustaf Boström

infobox Prime Minister
name=Erik Gustaf Boström
order=7th Prime Minister of Sweden


term_start =10 July 1891
term_end =12 September 1900
5 July 1902–13 April 1905
predecessor =Gustaf Åkerhielm
Fredrik von Otter
successor =Fredrik von Otter
Johan Ramstedt
birth_date =birth date|1842|2|11|df=y
birth_place =Stockholm, Stockholms District
death_date =death date and age|1907|2|21|1842|2|11|df=y
death_place =Stockholm, Stockholms District
party=Lantmanna Party
alma_mater = Uppsala University

Erik Gustaf Bernhard Boström (February 11, 1842 – February 21, 1907) was a Swedish landowner and politician, who was a member of the Swedish Parliament (1876–1907) and Prime Minister of Sweden twice (1891–1900 and 1902–1905). He was also known as E.G. Boström or E. Gust. Boström.

In 1871, he married Carolina "Lina" Almqvist, with whom he had six daughters and one son. Brother of County Governor Filip Boström and nephew of the philosopher Christopher Jacob Boström.

Boström’s governmental policy was marked by its pragmatism. Over time, Boström gained a good reputation as being a rallying national icon despite being the first prime minister to have neither an academic education nor experience with upper governmental positions. He was also quite popular with King Oscar II. Boström’s eventual downfall was caused by his refusal to budge on the issue of Norway.

Childhood and career

Erik Gustaf Boström was born in Stockholm, the son of Eric Samuel Boström, chief judge of the district court and his wife Elisabet Gustava Fredenheim. The family was one branch of the Laestadius family of priests from Norrland. His paternal grandfather Christopher Laestander, a townsman and ship carpenter in the city of Piteå, took the surname Boström.

He was tutored by Kristian Claëson, whose first cousin served as the Minister of Education and Ecclesiastical Affairs under Boström in 1898. In 1854, he became a student at the Uppsala Cathedral School, which was also the year his father died. It is worth noting that five of his fellow cabinet members during his first term attended the same school: Axel Rappe, Edvard von Krusenstjerna, Ludvig Annerstedt, Gustaf Gilljam and Lars Åkerhielm. In 1861, he transferred to Uppsala University, where he studied until 1863 when his mother died and he had to take over her manor Östanå.

It is interesting to note that as a youth he availed himself of the opportunity to pay to avoid conscription, which was last possible in 1872.

Boström was quite successful as a farmer and he started to get involved in local politics. In January 1870, he became a member of the executive committee of the Agricultural Society of Stockholm County and of the county council of Stockholm County, where he also served as vice-chairperson and chairperson for many years. In 1871, he married Carolina Almqvist, daughter of Councillor of Justice and Minister Ludvig Almqvist. In 1875, he was elected to the lower house of Parliament to represent the judicial district of Södra Roslag where he quickly positioned himself as a leading protectionist, supporting tariff protection, in the Standing Committees of Ways and Means and of Banking. In addition, he was interested in a strong defence, which he considered to have manifested itself as a strong marine defence, and a strong opposition to the abolition of the Swedish allotment system.

Prime Minister 1891–1900

Prime Minister 1902–1905

Chancellor of the Swedish Universities 1905–1907

After he retired from his position as Prime Minister, Boström became the Chancellor of the Swedish Universities, where he tried unsuccessfully to prevent Bengt Lidforss from continuing on as associate professor at Lund University. He then tendered his resignation from his position as chancellor, although he quickly retracted it. Boström continued to be interested in politics and in a letter that he wrote to his dear old friend Carl Herslow on June 4, he stated that it would be extremely desirable for the recently retired government to have been able to stay on. He also said in a letter that Staaff's government could take of social policy better than a conservative government could and that Staaff occasionally appeared to possess the ability to accomplish a lot, although he chose a different way. Boström died in his home in Stockholm on February 21, 1907. A few days later, the bells pealed out over Stockholm to commemorate the former Prime Minister.

Family

*One brother, County Governor of Södermanland County Filip Boström.
*One sister Ebba Augusta, who worked with a charity.
*Six daughters: Hedvig, Carolina Elisabeth, Sofia Lovisa, Clara Gustafva, Ingeborg Maria and Eva Margareta.
*One son: Chamberlain Gustaf Samuel Boström.
*Married to Carolina Almqvist, daughter of Councillor of Justice and Minister Ludvig Almqvist.

Bibliography and sources