Union between Sweden and Norway
Representing the constituency of "Jarlsberg og Laurvigs Amt", he was elected to Parliament in 1854, 1857, 1859, 1862, 1865 and 1868. He continued to serve as President of the Storting for each of these terms. In 1864 he was the sole holder of this position, and held the principal speeches commemorating the fiftieth anniversaries of the Constitution of Norway (on 17 May) and the Union between Sweden and Norway (on 4 November).