Leif Öhrvall

Leif Öhrvall
Born
Leif Hjalmar Öhrvall

(1887-01-25)25 January 1887
Uppsala, Sweden
Died20 September 1985(1985-09-20) (aged 88)
Lidingö, Sweden
Alma materUppsala Universitet
OccupationDiplomat
Years active1930–1963
Spouse
Lisa-Britta Elmström
​
​
(m. 1937)​
Children3
RelativesHubert de Bèsche (co-father-in-law)

Leif Hjalmar Öhrvall (25 January 1897 – 20 September 1985) was a Swedish diplomat whose career spanned Europe, Asia, and the Americas. After joining the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1930, he held early postings in London, Vienna, Belgrade, and Budapest. He later served as secretary to Foreign Minister Rickard Sandler and held key positions in Bucharest, Sofia, and Lisbon. During World War II, as consul in Oslo, he gained recognition for his assistance to resistance figures, notably helping Bishop Eivind Berggrav escape capture.

After 1945, Öhrvall’s assignments included Baden-Baden, Tokyo (as head of mission), Reykjavík (where he rose to envoy), and postings in Bogotá, Panama City, and Quito. His final appointment was as Sweden’s envoy and ambassador in Dublin (1958–1963). Beyond his diplomatic service, he was a board member of the Hugo Alfvén Foundation from 1965.

Early life

Öhrvall was born on 25 January 1897 in Uppsala, Sweden, the son of Professor Hjalmar Öhrwall and Elise Axelson.[1] He completed his studentexamen in 1915, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1919, and a law degree in 1929,[1] all from Uppsala University.[2]

Career

Öhrvall began his diplomatic career in 1930 as an attaché at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. He served in London in 1931, followed by postings in Vienna, Belgrade, and Budapest in 1933. In 1934 he became acting second secretary at the Ministry, later serving as secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs Rickard Sandler (1934–35). He was second legation secretary in Bucharest and Sofia in 1937, chargé d'affaires in Lisbon from 1938 to 1941, first vice-consul in Oslo in 1941, and consul there from 1944.[1] During his years in occupied Norway he became known as “Norway’s best friend” after personally helping the disguised and fugitive bishop Eivind Berggrav reach safety.[3][4]

After the war, Öhrvall’s career continued to take him across the globe. He returned to serve at the Ministry in 1945, became consul in Baden-Baden in 1947, and from 1948 to 1951 served as legation counsellor and head of mission in Tokyo as Sweden’s diplomatic representative.[1][5] He was chargé d’affaires in Reykjavík in 1951, promoted to envoy there in 1953, and later posted to Bogotá, Panama City, and Quito in 1955,[1] before his final posting as envoy and ambassador in Dublin from 1958 to 1963.[6]

From 1965, he was also a board member of the Hugo Alfvén Foundation (Hugo Alfvénstiftelsen).[6]

Personal life

On 20 August 1937, at the Capitoline Hill in Rome, Italy[7] Öhrvall married Lisa-Britta Elmström (born 1914), daughter of fund manager Ejnar Elmström and Lisa Bagge.[8] They had three children: a son, Jan, and a daughter, Marianne,[9] as well as another son who died at a young age in 1947.[10]

Through his son Jan’s marriage to Gunilla de Bèsche, Öhrvall became co-father-in-law to Ambassador Hubert de Bèsche.[11]

Death

Öhrvall died on 20 September 1985 in Lidingö.[12] A memorial service took place in Saint Erik's Chapel on 26 September 1985.[13] He was interred on 29 November 1985 at Uppsala Old Cemetery in his hometown of Uppsala.[14]

Awards and decorations

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Harnesk, Paul, ed. (1962). Vem är vem? [Who's Who?] (in Swedish). Vol. 1, Stor–Stockholm (2nd ed.). Stockholm: Vem är vem bokförlag. p. 1464. SELIBR 53509.
  2. ^ Majhälsning till landsmännen (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Södermanlands-Nerikes nation. 1930. p. 11. SELIBR 903895.
  3. ^ "I marginalen: Änglar m.m." [In the margin: Angels etc.]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 20 May 1945. p. 10A. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  4. ^ "Svenska oslodiplomater räddade många norrmän" [Swedish Oslo diplomats saved many Norwegians]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Oslo. TT. 16 May 1945. p. 22. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  5. ^ Sveriges statskalender för året 1951 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1951. p. 295.
  6. ^ a b Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1985 [Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1985] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. 1984. p. 1247. ISBN 91-1-843222-0. SELIBR 3681527.
  7. ^ "Lysning" [Banns]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 22 September 1985. p. 2A. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  8. ^ Svensson, Stina, ed. (1953). Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1953 [Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1953] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 1204. SELIBR 9649164.
  9. ^ "dödsfall: Leif Öhrvall" [deaths: Leif Öhrvall]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 22 September 1985. p. 18. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  10. ^ "Döde" [Deaths]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 20 May 1947. p. 2A. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  11. ^ Keiller, Lennart, ed. (25 August 1977). "familjenytt" [family news]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). p. 14. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  12. ^ Sveriges dödbok 1860-2016 [Swedish death index 1860-2016] (in Swedish) (Version 7.0 förhandsutgåva ed.). Sveriges släktforskarförbund. 2017. ISBN 9789188341150. SELIBR 22365549.
  13. ^ "Döda" [Deaths]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 24 September 1985. p. 20 (16). Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  14. ^ "Öhrvall, Leif Hjalmar". svenskagravar.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  15. ^ Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1968 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1968. p. 178.
  16. ^ Sveriges statskalender för året 1951 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1951. p. 122.
  17. ^ "ORÐUHAFASKRÁ" (in Icelandic). President of Iceland. Retrieved 28 August 2025. Öhrvall, L.H.


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