Leif Öhrvall

Leif Öhrvall
Born
Leif Hjalmar Öhrvall

(1887-01-25)25 January 1887
Uppsala, Sweden
Died20 September 1985(1985-09-20) (aged 88)
Lidingö, Sweden
Alma materUppsala Universitet
OccupationDiplomat
Years active1930–1963
Spouse
Lisa-Britta Elmström
(m. 1937)
Children3
RelativesHubert de Bèsche (co-father-in-law)

Leif Hjalmar Öhrvall (25 January 1897 – 20 September 1985) was a Swedish diplomat whose career spanned Europe, Asia, and the Americas. After joining the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1930, he held early postings in London, Vienna, Belgrade, and Budapest. He later served as secretary to Foreign Minister Rickard Sandler and held key positions in Bucharest, Sofia, and Lisbon. During World War II, as consul in Oslo, he gained recognition for his assistance to resistance figures, notably helping Bishop Eivind Berggrav escape capture.

After 1945, Öhrvall’s assignments included Baden-Baden, Tokyo (as head of mission), Reykjavík (where he rose to envoy), and postings in Bogotá, Panama City, and Quito. His final appointment was as Sweden’s envoy and ambassador in Dublin (1958–1963). Beyond his diplomatic service, he was a board member of the Hugo Alfvén Foundation from 1965.