Malvina Mehrn
Malvina Mehrn | |
|---|---|
| Born | Malvina Brix 22 March 1862 Foulum, Viborg Municipality, Denmark |
| Died | 13 December 1960 (aged 98) Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Occupation | Animal rights activist |
| Spouse |
Lauritz Johan Thorvald Sørensen Mehrn
(m. 1886; died 1923) |
| Children | 2 |
Malvina Mehrn (née Brix; 22 March 1862 – 13 December 1960) was a Danish animal rights activist who was the chairman of the animal welfare organisation Svalen from 1906 to 1920.
Early and personal life
Malvina Brix was born on 22 March 1862 in Foulum, Viborg to parish priest Jens Bøgild Brix (1815–1877) and Anne Marie Nørschau (1821–1904), and was one of fourteen children. The family struggled financially, and the children were raised under economic strain.[1]
On 16 November 1886, she married Lauritz Johan Thorvald Sørensen Mehrn (1846–1923). Her husband originally wanted to become an artist, but after pressure from his father, he chose to join the army. The couple had two daughters, Laura and Anne Marie, who were born in 1888 and 1889. In 1906, the family left Viborg and moved to Copenhagen.[1]
Activism
She joined the bird protection organisation Svalen shortly after its founding in 1897 and worked as its secretary and treasurer. The organisation's founder, Camilla Eegholm, chose Mehrn to succeed her as chairman before she died in 1905, as she thought Mehrn's decisiveness, gentleness, and sense of courage and duty were what the organisation needed to succeed.[1] Mehrn was officially elected as chairman on 6 February 1906. Her husband Lauritz Mehrn also joined the Svalen's board as treasurer, and designed an emblem for the organisation.[2]
As the leader of Svalen, she gradually moved the focus from bird protection to an animal welfare organisation and led with a holistic approach. She compared the emancipation of animals with the emancipation of slaves, and believed that animals were voiceless sentient beings which needed to be protected with established rights. In order to do this, Mehrn concentrated on improving legislation and implementing a uniform international animal protection policy.[1]
At the 1909 international animal protection congress in London, Mehrn proposed that the next congress be held two years later in Copenhagen.[3] From 1 to 5 August 1911, the congress was hosted at the Hotel d'Angleterre in Copenhagen, and was the largest event ever hosted by Svalen. The congress particularly focused on humane slaughter and abolishing vivisection.[2]
Mehrn also focused on encouraging women's rights movements to back her animal welfare reforms. In 1915, Svalen was accepted into the Danish Women's National Council. Mehrn urged its members to support her reforms with their newly won right to vote. The following year in 1916, The Danish Animal Protection Act was adopted, partly due to Svalen's campaigning.[1] Svalen and Mehrn also campaigned against the docking horse tails and encouraging young people to protect birds.[3]
During Mehrn's tenure as chairman of Svalen, Christian X, then Crown Prince, held the title of "Protector of Svalen". Alexandra of Denmark, Queen of the United Kingdom was also an honorary member of the organisation.[3]
In 1919 following the stress of the end of World War I, Lauritz Mehrn retired from his role as treasurer at the age of 73. Malvina Mehrn resigned from her post a year later and was succeeded by August Dedenroth Berg.[2]
Later life and death
Despite stepping down as chairman of Svalen, Mehrn continued to do humane work for animals into old age.[4]
After her husband's death in 1923, her two daughters began living with her. Mehrn died on 13 December 1960 in Copenhagen, at the age of 98.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Vammen, Tinne. "Malvina Mehrn". Dansk kvindebiografisk leksikon (in Danish). Dansk Nationalleksikon. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ a b c Gabrielsen, Karsten (2001). Virksom flyver jeg frem Dyreværneforeningen Svalens historie 1897-1985 (PDF). Arki-Varia. pp. 22–23, 26–28. ISBN 87-89409-09-4.
- ^ a b c Lind af Hageby, L. (1909). The animals' cause : a selection of papers contributed to the international anti-vivisection and animal protection congress, held at the Caxton Hall, Westminster, London, July 6th-10th, 1909 (in English and French). London: The Animal Defence and Anti-Vivisection Society. pp. 17, 187.
- ^ "Pictures of the Month". Our Dumb Animals. Vol. 82, no. 3. Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. March 1949. Retrieved 18 July 2025.