August Schauman

Josef August Schauman (July 7, 1826, Helsinki – August 28, 1896, Helsinki Rural Municipality, now Vantaa) was a Finnish journalist, politician, and memoir writer. He is best known as the founder of the Swedish-language daily newspaper Hufvudstadsbladet. During his studies, Schauman became interested in Fennomania, and the language issue was a central theme in his career. He supported the improvement of the status of the Finnish language while defending the historical position of the Swedish language. Schauman supported the Liberal Party and participated in every parliament session from 1863 to 1894.

Youth and studies

August Schauman belonged to the noble Schauman family. His father was Carl Schauman, a former officer in the Swedish army who was captured by the Russians during the surrender of Sveaborg (Viapori) and later served as a chamberlain in the Senate of autonomous Finland, receiving the title of chamber counselor. His mother was Johanna Lovisa Hoeckert. August Schauman's older brothers included theologian and Bishop of Porvoo Frans Ludvig Schauman, and Berndt Otto Schauman, known as an art expert.

Schauman graduated from high school in 1842 and became interested in the rising Fennomania movement during his studies. He studied the Finnish language during a trip to Savonia in the summer of 1845, where he also met leading Fennoman thinkers and Karelian epic singers. Schauman earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in philosophy in 1850. He worked as the financial manager of the Finnish Literature Society from 1851 to 1856 and as the editor of Helsingfors Morgonblad from 1853 to 1855. In 1851, he traveled to Denmark and, from 1856 to 1858, visited the leading cultural countries of Central and Western Europe.