Haagen Mathiesen
Encyclopedia
Haagen Mathiesen was a Norwegian timber merchant, ship-owner and politician.
He was born in Christiania
as the son of timber merchant and judge Jørgen Mathiesen (1725–1764) and his wife Karen Haagensdatter Nielsen (1735–1766). He graduated from Christiania Cathedral School
in 1776 and then from the University of Copenhagen
in 1780 with the cand.jur. degree. He came from a wealthy background, but lost his parents early, and his first business venture, a dry goods store in Moss, Norway
, failed. In March 1790 he married Beate Monsen (1766–1823), a daughter of Mogens Larsen Monsen. He soon involved himself in the Monsen family business, as a timber merchant and ship-owner, and bought the share of his father-in-law in 1797. In 1802 he inherited Linderud
manor, previously owned by Mogens Larsen Monsen. Linderud manor soon became the cornerstone of Mathiesen's family property, and the outtake of timber was concentrated to Hurdal
, a few hours north of Linderud.
Unlike many others, Mathiesen survived the Gunboat War
(1807–1814) economically, and stood out as one of the wealthiest persons in Christiania around 1814. He had helped found the Royal Frederick University
in 1811, and was a member of the city commission in Christiania, a forerunner institution of the city council which came in 1837–38. He stood for general election in 1817, but failed. In 1814
, when the union with Denmark
was dissolved, Mathiesen campaigned for a union with Sweden, even going as far as inviting King Charles XIV John of Sweden
to his manor. The union
came to be after the summer's Swedish campaign against Norway
, but only as a loose personal union. Disgruntled by national events, Mathiesen repatriated to Paris
in 1819 and Copenhagen
in 1826. Mathiesen, who previously had sided with Sweden, now pledged allegiance to the Danish state. Francis Sejersted
has noted that Mathiesen followed the princicple "ubi bene ibi patria".
Mathiesen was no less pragmatic when it came to his personal life. His wife and four children stayed in Norway; in Denmark he lived with former maid Anne Bue (1783–1853) and the four children they had together. Through his daughter Henriette, who died already in 1822, he was the father-in-law of Nicolai Johan Lohmann Krog
.
During the period in Denmark, his business was overseen by manager Christopher Henrik Holfeldt Tostrup. In addition, his son Mogens Larsen Mathiesen (1799–1875) eventually became involved. As Haagen Mathiesen died in October 1842 in Copenhagen, the company was taken over by Tostrup and Mogens Larsen Mathiesen as partners under the name Tostrup & Mathiesen. However, Mogens Mathiesen was an inactive partner and transferred his shares to his son Haaken C. Mathiesen
in 1849. The Tostrup family left the company in 1892, and when Eidsvold Værk was bought in 1893, the company Mathiesen Eidsvold Værk
was shaped. Haagen's great-grandson Haaken L. Mathiesen
took over in 1895.
He was born in Christiania
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
as the son of timber merchant and judge Jørgen Mathiesen (1725–1764) and his wife Karen Haagensdatter Nielsen (1735–1766). He graduated from Christiania Cathedral School
Oslo katedralskole
Schola Osloensis, known in Norwegian as Oslo katedralskole and more commonly as "Katta" is an upper secondary school located in Oslo, Norway. The school offers the college preparatory studiespesialisering of the Norwegian school system...
in 1776 and then from the University of Copenhagen
University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is the oldest and largest university and research institution in Denmark. Founded in 1479, it has more than 37,000 students, the majority of whom are female , and more than 7,000 employees. The university has several campuses located in and around Copenhagen, with the...
in 1780 with the cand.jur. degree. He came from a wealthy background, but lost his parents early, and his first business venture, a dry goods store in Moss, Norway
Moss, Norway
is a coastal city and a municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Moss. The city of Moss was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
, failed. In March 1790 he married Beate Monsen (1766–1823), a daughter of Mogens Larsen Monsen. He soon involved himself in the Monsen family business, as a timber merchant and ship-owner, and bought the share of his father-in-law in 1797. In 1802 he inherited Linderud
Linderud
Linderud is a neighborhood in Bjerke borough, Oslo, Norway. The area originally formed part of the estate of Linderud Manor.-Linderud Manor:...
manor, previously owned by Mogens Larsen Monsen. Linderud manor soon became the cornerstone of Mathiesen's family property, and the outtake of timber was concentrated to Hurdal
Hurdal
Hurdal is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Romerike. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hurdal....
, a few hours north of Linderud.
Unlike many others, Mathiesen survived the Gunboat War
Gunboat War
The Gunboat War was the naval conflict between Denmark–Norway and the British Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. The war's name is derived from the Danish tactic of employing small gunboats against the conventional Royal Navy...
(1807–1814) economically, and stood out as one of the wealthiest persons in Christiania around 1814. He had helped found the Royal Frederick University
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
in 1811, and was a member of the city commission in Christiania, a forerunner institution of the city council which came in 1837–38. He stood for general election in 1817, but failed. In 1814
Norway in 1814
1814 was a pivotal year in the history of Norway. It started with Norway in a union with the Kingdom of Denmark subject to a naval blockade being ceded to the king of Sweden. In May a constitutional convention declared Norway an independent kingdom. By the end of the year the Norwegian parliament...
, when the union with Denmark
Denmark–Norway
Denmark–Norway is the historiographical name for a former political entity consisting of the kingdoms of Denmark and Norway, including the originally Norwegian dependencies of Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands...
was dissolved, Mathiesen campaigned for a union with Sweden, even going as far as inviting King Charles XIV John of Sweden
Charles XIV John of Sweden
Charles XIV & III John, also Carl John, Swedish and Norwegian: Karl Johan was King of Sweden and King of Norway from 1818 until his death...
to his manor. The union
Union between Sweden and Norway
The Union between Sweden and Norway , officially the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway, consisted of present-day Sweden and Norway between 1814 and 1905, when they were united under one monarch in a personal union....
came to be after the summer's Swedish campaign against Norway
Swedish campaign against Norway (1814)
The Swedish-Norwegian War, also known as the Campaign against Norway, was fought between Sweden and Norway in the summer of 1814. The war resulted in Norway entering into union with Sweden, but with its own constitution and parliament.-Background:...
, but only as a loose personal union. Disgruntled by national events, Mathiesen repatriated to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1819 and Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
in 1826. Mathiesen, who previously had sided with Sweden, now pledged allegiance to the Danish state. Francis Sejersted
Francis Sejersted
Francis Sejersted is a Norwegian history professor and former chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.Sejersted was educated in history as well as nordic language and literature at the University of Oslo and achieved a candidatus philologiæ in 1965 and a doctorate in 1973.From 1971 to 1973...
has noted that Mathiesen followed the princicple "ubi bene ibi patria".
Mathiesen was no less pragmatic when it came to his personal life. His wife and four children stayed in Norway; in Denmark he lived with former maid Anne Bue (1783–1853) and the four children they had together. Through his daughter Henriette, who died already in 1822, he was the father-in-law of Nicolai Johan Lohmann Krog
Nicolai Johan Lohmann Krog
Nicolai Johan Lohmann Krog was First Minister of Norway . He also held several other ministerial posts in the period 1821-1855, Minister of the Army and Minister of the Navy.- Online :...
.
During the period in Denmark, his business was overseen by manager Christopher Henrik Holfeldt Tostrup. In addition, his son Mogens Larsen Mathiesen (1799–1875) eventually became involved. As Haagen Mathiesen died in October 1842 in Copenhagen, the company was taken over by Tostrup and Mogens Larsen Mathiesen as partners under the name Tostrup & Mathiesen. However, Mogens Mathiesen was an inactive partner and transferred his shares to his son Haaken C. Mathiesen
Haaken C. Mathiesen
Haaken Christian Mathiesen was a Norwegian landowner and businessperson in the forestry sector.-Personal life:...
in 1849. The Tostrup family left the company in 1892, and when Eidsvold Værk was bought in 1893, the company Mathiesen Eidsvold Værk
Mathiesen Eidsvold Værk
Mathiesen Eidsvold Værk ANS is a Norwegian industrial company, owned by the Mathiesen industrial family, and historically one of the largest timber companies of Norway, and arguably Europe....
was shaped. Haagen's great-grandson Haaken L. Mathiesen
Haaken L. Mathiesen
Haaken Larpent Mathiesen was a Norwegian landowner and businessperson in the forestry sector.He was born in Christiania as the son of landowner Haaken C. Mathiesen and his wife Anna Sophie Josephine Larpent...
took over in 1895.