Hedvig Ibsen

Hedvig Cathrine Ibsen (married name Hedvig Stousland; born 15 November 1831 in Skien - died 15 June 1920 in Skien) was the sister of playwright Henrik Ibsen. She was the sister with whom Ibsen was particularly close during their childhood. She was the daughter of Knud Ibsen and Marichen Altenburg, in a wealthy family whose fortunes were eventually ruined by Ibsen's bankruptcy.

Influence on Henrik Ibsen

Hedvig was named for her maternal grandmother, Hedevig Paus. The character Hedvig in Ibsen's The Wild Duck is widely believed to be named for her and/or her grandmother.^[1]

Personal life

Ibsen married ship's captain Jacob Stousland. Their son, merchant and politician Carl Stousland (1860–1941), became a member of parliament for Skien and its mayor.^[2]

References

^ Joan Templeton, Ibsen's women, Cambridge University Press, 1997, p. 1ff.
^ NSD: Carl Stousland^{[permanent dead link]}

Henrik Ibsen's family

Ancestors and birth relatives

Grandparents Henrich Ibsen, Johanne Plesner, Johan Andreas Altenburg, Hedevig Paus, Ole Paus (step grandfather), parents Knud Ibsen and Marichen Altenburg, sister Hedvig Ibsen, uncles Christian Cornelius Paus, Henrik Johan Paus, Christopher Blom Paus, great-aunt Kristine Cathrine Ploug (née Altenburg), first cousin Ole Paus, nephew Carl Stousland, first cousin once removed Christopher de Paus

Wife, family-in-law and issue

Wife Suzannah Ibsen (née Thoresen), step mother-in-law Magdalene Thoresen, son Sigurd Ibsen, daughter-in-law Bergliot Ibsen (née Bjørnson), grandson Tancred Ibsen, granddaughter Irene Ibsen Bille (née Ibsen), grandson's wife Lillebil Ibsen (née Krohn), great-grandsons Tancred Ibsen Jr. and Joen Bille, great-great-granddaughters Nora Ibsen and Beate Bille