Hans Gabrielsen

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Hans Julius Gabrielsen (8 January 1891 – 10 March 1965) was a Norwegian lawyer and Liberal Party politician. He served as County Governor of Finnmark from 1928 to 1948 and as acting County Governor of Troms in 1940–1941. In 1945 he was Consultative Councillor of State for Finnmark Affairs. He then became County Governor of Oppland from 1948 to 1961.

During the 1940 German invasion, Gabrielsen helped organize the civilian side of the war effort in Northern Norway. He worked with General Carl Gustav Fleischer to mobilize resources, secure supplies, and arrange housing for King Haakon VII and the cabinet. He was arrested by the Germans in 1941 and spent time in Møllergata 19 and later in Grini concentration camp until 1945. At Grini he and other prisoners took part in the Forest Gang, a summer work group that allowed them to smuggle messages and plan for postwar reconstruction.

After liberation, Gabrielsen joined Gerhardsen’s government as Consultative Councillor for Finnmark Affairs and helped lead reconstruction in the north, working with engineer Harald Hofseth. He returned to Finnmark as governor and later became Governor of Oppland until his retirement in 1961. He also served on boards including Opplandskraft and Vinmonopolet, and was awarded the Commander With Star of the Order of St. Olav. He was married to Sara Andersen since 1918 and died in Lillehammer in 1965.