Talk:Niels Ryberg Finsen

Finsen was a Faroese, not a Dane
I know, most Finsen biographies call him a Dane, but this is not his true nationality. He was Faroese. Born in the Faroes and grown up there as the son of the gouvernor Hannes Finsen. His father was Icelandic and his mother a Dane, who lived in Iceland. Ofcourse, at this time Iceland and the Faroes were parts of Denmark, but this does not mean, that these nations were not existing with their languages and culture. Niels Finsen left the Faroes in the age of 14. It is almost impossible, that he was not speaking Faroese, independend from propably Icelandic and/or Danish spoken at home. Niels' brother Olaf lived over 50 years in Tórshavn (where he was born) and was a notable Faroese pharmacist and member of the town council (at least its president). In the Faroes, nobody doubts, that Niels Finsen is nobody less than their countryman. One of the most important streets in Tórshavn is the Niels Finsens gøta, where the Løgting is located and each year the Ólavsøka parade starts. He got thus the most prominent street of the country :) Arne List 14:44, 1 Mar 2005 (UTC)


 * I've written that Finsen is Faroese/Danish, primarily because he was born in the Faroe Islands, but not to Faroese parents. His father was Icelantic, but went on to live in Denmark as Amtmand of Ribe. His mother was from Copenhagen, a large part of his family was from Copenhagen, he had many close relatives that lived in Copenhagen and finally he himself spent most of his life in Copenhagen - so Faroese/Danish. Saying that he was only Faroese would basing his nationality solely on his place of birth. Something I believe the many Faroese born in Denmark to Faroese parents would disagree strongly with, as following that logic they would not be Faroese. --Mecil 04:59, 8 December 2005 (UTC)

Finsen was Faroese, not Icelantic
This is the second time that someone has made an edit claiming that Finsen was Icelantic and I'm wondering on why this is. Is it a common held belief in Iceland? I have presented the arguement that Finsen should be considered Faorese/Danish because he was born in the Faroe Islands, but spent most of his life in Copenhagen. His mother was Danish, his father lived in the Faroe Islands and later for a very long time in Denmark. To call him Icelantic because his father was born in Iceland is a bit of a stretch. Can anyone present a counterarguement? --Mecil 13:06, 5 March 2006 (UTC)
 * In the Icelandic article about him it says he was a Faeroese doctor with Icelandic ancestry. The Icelandic ancestry is probably only noteworthy on the Icelandic Wikipedia. --Sindri 14:29, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

Well this seems to be some "thing" with Icelantic people, as it was changed again. This time an unsourced claim on his mother being Icelantic was added. Please if you feel so strongly about this, make your case here, and cite your references. Mecil 16:42, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

"lives on"
I don't think the statement that "his notion that specific wavelengths of sunlight have scientifically proven healing properties lives on in the radiation treatment of cancer." is really valid. the two things are totally removed from one another and modern radiation treatment does not have roots in sunlight therapy.--Deglr6328 19:58, 13 January 2007 (UTC)

Your probably right. I'll remove it if nobody objects Mecil 16:47, 7 May 2007 (UTC)