[1] Christen Berg was born at Fjaltring parish in Lemvig Municipality, Denmark to a farm family of North Jutland.

Politically he was an eager spokesman of parliamentarianism and of the right of the farmers versus the squire but unlike Hørup he was not that critical towards traditional national and religious ideals.

They could meet in their bitter opposition against the Estrup government but often fell out and 1884 they split up, Berg joining the more moderate parts of Left.

In many ways he was the first in line of what has later been called “the Left chiefs” in Danish history, masterful, somewhat authoritarian and firm types which were however very popular among their voters.

His opponents of the upper class often accused him of being an inelegant boor while his rivals among the liberals sometimes suspected him of being an opportunist and power seeking.