OSCAR I

born July 4, 1799, Paris died July 8, 1859, Stockholm in full Joseph-franois-oscar king of Sweden and Norway from 1844 to 1859, son of Charles XIV John, formerly the French marshal Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte. Oscar's early liberal outlook and progressive ideas on such issues as fiscal policy, freedom of the press, and penal reform fortuitously coincided with a period of social, political, and industrial change. After his accession (March 8, 1844) he furthered various reforms, although his attitude was paternalistic. Especially after the 1848 revolutions elsewhere in Europe, Oscar became increasingly conservative, particularly on constitutional issues. He became ill in 1857, and for the next two years his functions were performed by his son, the future Charles XV.