Per Abraham Ornskold

Per Abraham Ornskold (18 November 1720 – 16 April 1791) was a Swedish nobleman, with the title of count, whose notability in his country's history stems from his dedication to the able management of Sweden's regional subdivisions which he administered in his capacity as governor.

In 1762, the year of his forty-second birthday, he was appointed county governor of the vast Vasternorrland County, which at that time consisted of the Medelpad, Angermanland and Jamtland provinces.

Ornskold realized the possibilities of the area and often travelled through it, by foot or using a carriage. He put to good advantage his knowledge about agriculture and city planning to found new settlements, thus relieving the old, overcrowded ones and, with the main goal of improving agriculture, provided aid for the farmers in trenching dikes, a procedure which they had previously found difficult to utilize. Among his other innovations was the introduction of new plants, including potato and flax, which quickly became popular; organizing the removal of stones from fields; commissioning maps of various parts of the region; opening pharmacies and myriad other improvements designed to help the inhabitants.

During the 1769 session of the Riksdag, opponents attacked his self-decided reforms, claiming he made them to glorify himself. They also made accusations that he enriched himself through embezzlement. Although Ornskold instituted several drastic reforms, some of which were arbitrary, his accusers were known to have acted with political motives as well as envy. Ultimately, Ornskold was not punished, but rather transferred to govern Nykoping County, a part of the larger Sodermanland County, where he continued his pattern of vigorously instituting reforms. In 1771 he was again accused of unlawful actions, but historical records do not indicate that he suffered any adverse consequences.

Per Abraham Ornskold died in Nykoping at the age of 70. His previous county of administration, Vasternorrland, has kept his memory and honoured it with various publications. The town of Ornskoldsvik, founded in 1842, fifty-one years after his death, was named after him.