14 Facts About Randi Blehr

Randi Marie Blehr was a Norwegian feminist, liberal politician, suffragist, peace activist and women's rights activist.

Randi Blehr was married to Prime Minister of Norway Otto Blehr, and was therefore addressed as "Madam Prime Minister" during her lifetime.

Randi Blehr was one of the preeminent leaders of the Norwegian women's rights movement from the 1880s and co-founded the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights, serving as its President from 1895 to 1899 and from 1903 to 1922.

Randi Blehr initiated the establishment of the Norwegian Women's Public Health Association that grew to become a humanitarian organisation with 250,000 members.

Randi Blehr was a leading advocate of Norwegian independence from Sweden and took on representative duties for Norway during her husband's tenure as Prime Minister.

Randi Blehr received no formal education but pursued the arts from a young age, including drawing, theatre and music.

Randi Blehr was involved in the establishment of Den Nationale Scene, Bergen's oldest and largest theatre, in 1876, and in the same year she married Otto Blehr, a lawyer and a politician for the left-wing Liberal Party who would later become the Prime Minister of Norway; their son was Eivind Blehr.

Randi Blehr joined Skuld, a discussion group for female students, in 1883, and was one of the co-founders of the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights in 1884.

Randi Blehr later became the chairperson of the organisation for over two periods: 1895 to 1899, and from 1903 to 1922.

Randi Blehr petitioned the parliament to formalise vocational education for women by creating training courses for maids, seamstresses, cooks and housewives.

Under Randi Blehr's leadership, the association advocated for equal pay and for children born out of wedlock to have their paternity recognised legally.

In 1885, since the Association for Women's Rights decided not to include women's suffrage on its agenda, Randi Blehr co-founded the Women's Suffrage Association under Gina Krog's leadership.

Randi Blehr was awarded the King's Medal of Merit in Gold on her 70th birthday in 1921.

Randi Blehr died during 1928 and was buried at the Cemetery of Our Saviour in Oslo.