Johannes Vilhelm Christian Steen received his M.A. degree (Cand.Philol.) in 1848. From 1849 he worked as a teacher. He was headmaster at the Grammar School in Stavanger (southwestern Norway) in 1867-1891. Steen was elected chairman of the political organization, Arbeiderforeningen "The Workers' Association" in 1855 and became involved in local politics.

In 1859 Steen was elected to the Storting for the first time and became known as an excellent speaker. A leading liberal politician, he was a member of the Storting in 1859-60, 1862-66, 1868-73, 1877-88, and 1895-1900. He served as President of the Storting in 1881-88 and 1895-98. Johannes Steen was both Prime Minister and Finance Minister in 1891-93 and then Prime Minister once more in 1898-1902. He was a member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee in 1901-1906.


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