Erik Scavenius

Erik Julius Christian Scavenius was the Danish foreign minister 1909–1910, 1913–1920 and 1940–1943, and prime minister from 1942 to 1943. His cabinet resigned in 1943 and suspended operations. The resignation was never formally accepted by the King so the cabinet existed de jure until a new one was formed following the Liberation of Denmark on May 5, 1945. Scavenius was a member of the Landsting 1918–1920 and 1925–1927 representing the Social Liberal Party. He was chairman of its party organization 1922–1924.

The Scavenius family belongs to the Danish nobility. It was family tradition to work as a diplomat. Erik Scavenius graduated in economics in 1901. Soon after, he became employed in the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was a secretary at the Danish Embassy in Berlin 1906–1908, a time forming his emphasis upon the primacy of Danish-German relations. Next, he became head of section in the ministry. He was an envoy to Vienna and Rome 1912–13 and to Stockholm 1924–32. From 1932 to 1940 he was chairman of the board of the major daily Politiken. Scavenius was the owner of a large estate 1915-1946. After 1945 he experienced personal and economic difficulties.