decline the candidatures of some of the more liberal and intellectual Lagting members. The aim was to put pressure on the remaining Lagting members, whom the conservatives called "the non-competent part of the court", but this did not succeed. As a politician Thomesen was, already from an early age, more radical than party leader and Prime Minister Johan Sverdrup. He was a strong proponent of public saving, and advocated liberal rules of suffrage—for male citizens. He also supported separation of church and state, and opposed the religious influence in his party, proponents of which would later break out to form the more lay-Christian Moderate Liberal Party. Thomesen was also anti-Swedish Union. He advocated republicanist rule, citing that the head of the executive branch of government should be vested with constitutional responsibility, and be elected for his skills. However, he also advocated the parliamentary system with a weak executive branch compared to the legislature. He eventually became an outspoken opponent of Prime Minister Johan Sverdrup, perceiving him as not radical enough. In December 1888 he hinted that Sverdrup was indirectly responsible for Ole Richter's suicide; as a result Thomesen was admonished through a Royal Resolution. He also antagonized other Liberal parliament members from his same constituency, notably Viggo Ullmann. Ultimately he was not re-elected for a sixth parliamentary term. He retired as a district stipendiary magistrate in August 1892, and moved to Sandvika. He died in eastern Bærum in October 1905. References 1817 births 1905 deaths Norwegian jurists Members of the Storting Politicians from Telemark People from Kragerø Liberal Party (Norway) politicians