Early Life and Career
Due was born in Trondheim, the son of merchant Carsten Schjødt Due (1762–1809) and Pauline Heltzen (1776–1850). His father's family originated from Duved in Jämtland, Sweden, where from the family name derived. His great-grandfather on his mother's side was Frederik Gottschalck von Haxthausen, who had served as First Minister of Norway for a short period in 1814.
At thirteen years of age, Due began his military education at the Artillery Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark. By 1813 he was a second lieutenant. He took part in the Swedish-Norwegian War of 1814, but after the union between the two countries was a fact, he was recruited by the Swedish court. In 1815, he was made adjutant to Prince Oscar – the later King Oscar I.
Due's career was rapid from this point on, helped by his fluency in French. He advanced to the ranks of lieutenant in 1818, and captain in 1819. In 1822, he was promoted to major, and at the same time constituted as Norwegian state secretary in Stockholm, a position to which he was formally appointed the next year. Due now served as interpreter between the francophone King Charles XIV John and his Norwegian cabinet.
Read more about this topic: Frederik Due
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