Peder Hersleb


Peder Hersleb was a Norwegian-Danish clergyman and Bishop.

Biography

He was born in Steinkjer in Nord-Trøndelag, Norway. He was the son of Christopher Hersleb and Sophie Borch. He moved to Trondheim where became a student in 1703 and received a bachelor degree in 1704. In 1707 he took his theological examination. In 1713, he was awarded a master's degree from the University of Copenhagen.
In 1714 he was appointed a military chaplain. In 1718 he was called to minister at Gunslev on the island of Falster, but the same year he was appointed priest at Frederiksborg Castle and vicar in Hillerod and Roskilde. In 1725, he moved to Copenhagen as priest in the Danish royal court. In 1727, he was a member of the Mission College and co-director of Waisenhuset Orphanage School which he inaugurated in spring 1728. He served as Bishop of the Diocese of Oslo from 1731 to 1737. He published several collections of sermons.
In 1737, he was elected Bishop of Diocese of Sjælland. His daughter, Frederikke Louise Hersleb, married Ludvig Harboe, who worked with him in the diocese. Hersleb died in 1757 and was buried in the cemetery of the Church of Holmen. Ludvig Harboe was appointed to replace him as Bishop.