Lars Johan Hierta - Stockholm, Sweden
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 59° 19.554 E 018° 04.034
34V E 333135 N 6580016
The oft moved statue of Lars Johan Hierta is now located in a small square in front of 7-9 Riddarhustorget in the Gamla Stan (Old City) section of Stockholm.
Waymark Code: WMM6T0
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Date Posted: 08/01/2014
Views: 14
Swedish newspaper publisher, social critic and politician Lars Johan Hierta was born into a noble family Uppsala, Sweden on January 22, 1801. In 1930, at age 29, he founded and was publisher of the liberal newspaper Aftonbladet. In this role he was an outspoken advocate for political and social reform in Sweden. He is considered to be the father of the free press in Sweden.
Before establishing his newspaper he was secretary at the Swedish House of Lords (1823) and from 1828 to 1830 he was a representative of the nobility in the Estates Assembly. While serving in the Swedish Parliament, the Riksdag, Hierta was a member of the the liberal opposition to the rule of of King Carl Johan XIV.
A 7' high bronze statue of Lars Johan Hierta depicts the publisher standing on a 7' high granite pedestal. He is wearing a knee-length coat and holding a newspaper with both hands at waist level. The statue was created by Christian Eriksson and first installed in 1927. It has been located at 7-9 Riddarhustorget since 2001.
The the front of the pedestal is inscribed:
LARS JOHAN
HIERTA
1801 - 1072
BANBRYTARE FOR EN FRI
PRESS OCH ETT FOLKLIGT
SAMHÄLLSSIKICK
----Translation----
LARS JOHAN
HIERTA
1801-1072
PIONEER FOR A FREE
PRESS AND POPULAR
SOCIETY