Frederik Holst (physician)


Frederik Holst was a Norwegian medical doctor. He is regarded as an important pioneer in medicine in Norway.

Biography

Holst was born at Holmestrand in Vestfold, Norway. He was the son of merchant Hans Holst and Inger Christine Backer.
He completed his examen artium at Oslo Cathedral School in 1810. He studied at the University of Copenhagen and earned his medical diploma based upon his doctoral thesis about the then common and now extinct skin disease "Radesyke".
He was appointed city physician in Christiania from 1817. He was Professor of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Hygiene at the University of Christiania from 1824 until 1865. His works had significant influence on the treatment of prisoners and of patients with mental disorders. Together with Michael Skjelderup, he started and published Eyrt, the first Norwegian medical journal. In 1831, he was elected a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. He was one of the founders of the Norwegian Medical Society in Oslo.

Personal life

He became the knight of Order of St. Olav, Commander of St. Olav's Order and Commander of the Order of the Polar Star.
In 1824, he married Dorothea Christierne Steffens.
Holst was the grandfather of the linguist Clara Holst and professor Axel Holst.