Michael Birkeland (16 December 1830 – 24 May 1896) was a Norwegian historian, civil servant and politician. He was born in Eigersund. He co-founded the Norwegian Historical Association in 1869, and edited the academic journal Historisk Tidsskrift from 1869 to 1879. He was a member of the Storting from 1880 to 1885. He was decorated Knight of the Order of St. Olav in 1875.