Per Ulrik Stenhammar

Swedish architect and composer, born 20 February 1829 in Törnevalla, Östergötland, died 8 February 1875 in Stockholm. He received his education at the Institute of Technology and the Academy of Fine Arts' building school, Stockholm. In 1866 he became a teacher at the Academy of Fine Arts. In 1874 he became an architect at the Seraphim Guild and the Office of the Superintendent and the following year at the Academy of Sciences. He has, among other things, designed the First Chapel (Ersta Church) and the King Oscar I Memorial Foundation in Stockholm, as well as several rural churches. The mission station Mkullo (M'kullo, now demolished) just outside Massawa in Eritrea is also one of his works. At one time it was known as Africa's most beautiful mission station. Without formal education, he was still a diligent and esteemed composer of both sacred and profane works. On January 24, 1868, he was elected member number 418 of the Royal Academy of Music. As an employee of the Office of the Superintendent, he was also involved in the construction of the Royal Academy of Music building, in the early 1870s. Per Ulrik Stenhammar was the son of the botanist and Member of Parliament Christian Stenhammar and Anna Charlotta Kernell. He married in 1858 the Countess Eva Christina Louise Rudenschöld and was the father of the architect Ernst Stenhammar and the composer Wilhelm Stenhammar and the brother of Fredrik Stenhammar.