Scandal leads to resignation

Gabriel Rein was forced to resign from his post as university rector as a result of the so-called Ditt och Datt scandal. At the beginning of May 1858, the student theatre had performed a spex written by Count Carl Robert Mannerheim, Ditt och Datt, dramatisk muntration, which dissected current political events. In his role as rector, Rein had approved the play, although only after asking some of the senior students to remove its most abrasive elements. The review, performed to fund construction of the student union building, poked fun at the likes of Johan Vilhelm Snellman, censorship and the Russian administration.

An aria written by the undergraduate Leo Mechelin even lampooned the Governor General, Friedrich Wilhelm Rembert von Berg, who ended up reporting the matter to St Petersburg with the aim of bringing the university within his remit. Mannerheim was suspended from the university for six months as a consequence of the dispute. The heaviest price was nevertheless paid by Rein, who was forced to resign his post.

Sources:

Klinge, Matti (ed.) Helsingin yliopisto 1640–1990. 2. Osa (‘The University of Helsinki 1640–1990. Part 2.’)
Landgrén, Lars-Folke (2006): Rein, Gabriel (1800–1867). National Biography online publication. Helsinki: Finnish Literature Society. Accessed November 13, 2015. Available for free on the Nelli Portal

By Written by Olli Siitonen, translated by Matthew Billington

Gabriel Rein

Born December 20, 1800, Jääksi. Died June 24, 1867, Helsinki

Bachelor of Arts 1822 and Master of Arts 1823, Imperial Alexander University

Director 1865, temporary Statistical Office of Finland
Rector 1848–1858 and vice-rector 1845–1848, Imperial Alexander University
Dean 1838–1839 and 1847–1848, Historical Department of the Faculty of Philosophy, Imperial Alexander University
Professor of history 1834–1860, Imperial Alexander University
Acting university lecturer in German language 1829 and permanent lecturer in German language 1832, Imperial Alexander University consistory.
Extraordinary amanuensis 1828 and permanent amanuensis 1829, Imperial Alexander University consistory
Docent in history 1825
Representative of the aristocracy in the Diet of Finland 1863–64 and 1867
Curator of the Vyborg student nation 1826–1834 and inspector (supervisor) 1835–1852

Founding member of the Finnish Literature Society 1831 and chairman 1841–1853, 1863–1867
Founding member of the Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters 1838 and chairman 1846–1847

Honours:
Knight of the Order of St Vladimir, fourth class, 1843
Knight of the Order of St Anna, second class, 1856
Ennobled 1856
Privy Councillor 1856

Photo: WikimediaCommons
Written by Olli Siitonen
Translated by Matthew Billington