Kristen Gran Gleditsch was born in
Overhalla Municipality as a son of
dean Lars August Gleditsch (1814–1886). He was a brother of bishop
Jens Gran Gleditsch, an uncle of
Ellen,
Kristian and
Henry Gleditsch, and a first cousin once removed of
Odd Gleditsch, Sr. and
Rolf Juell Gleditsch. He started a military career, and reached the rank of
lieutenant colonel in 1921. He had a parallel career in
topography, as an employee in the
Norwegian Mapping and Cadastre Authority (then known as
Norges Geografiske Oppmåling) since 1898. He chaired the department of topography there from 1916 to 1932. He issued several maps and travelling books. He also chaired the
Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature. ==References==