Gustaf Åkerhielm was born in Stockholm, son of Swedish cabinet member Gustaf Fredrik Åkerhielm and his wife, Elisabeth Sophia Anker. After diplomatic service in Saint Petersburg and Copenhagen, he had a successful political career, where he held a long succession of different positions in the government from minister of finance from 1874 to 1875. In 1889 he was appointed to the position of minister for foreign affairs by Gillis Bildt, and in October of the same year, he became the new prime minister of Sweden.
Åkerhielm sought to solve military defense issues, but his efforts were blocked because of opposition in the Lower House of the Swedish Parliament. However, he was able to remain in power due to support he had in the Upper House. In 1891, he was nevertheless forced to resign after an careless reply to a question about defense, which was interpreted as a war-like threat against Norway. The exact wording of his statement was unclear, but those who were present said the statement was, more or less, that "a new order for the Army will allow us to speak Swedish with Norwegians."
He died on 2 April 1900 in Stockholm.
References
^"Sweden" (in Swedish). World Statesmen. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
