Carl Brandes

February 4

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On this date in 1847, Carl Brandes was born. The Danish writer and politician received a Ph.D. from Copenhagen University, and edited several radical political publications. His novels and plays propounded rationalist and progressive ideals. Brandes notably refused, as a freethinker, to take the oath when elected to the Folketing in 1880. Despite attempts to unseat him, he won the right to affirm. Even with his openly atheist views, he was appointed to the the post of Minister of Finance.