Jens Landmark
Encyclopedia
Jens Landmark was a Norwegian military officer and politician. He reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
, was the director of Kongsberg Weapons Factory from 1854 to 1880, invented the Landmark conversion
and served both as mayor
as well as three periods in the Norwegian Parliament.
to Andreas Landmark
and Jacobine Caroline Wind. His uncle was Nils Landmark
, and he had several notable cousins, including Johan Theodor and Johan Widing Heiberg Landmark
.
He married Richarda Mathea Petrie Bruenech (1813–1854), who hailed from Kongsberg
.
. Originally going into apprenticeship as a surveyor, he got this job on a permanent basis in October 1840. On 1 November 1854 he became acting director, and was appointed director permanently on 26 May 1855. He succeeded Peder Christian Holst
. Landmark personally constructed the Landmark conversion
, a modification of the kammerlader
rifle
s to allow them to fire rim fire ammunition, as opposed to being caplock weapons. The model was used by the Royal Norwegian Navy
. During Landmark's time as director, the factory saw some significant progresses. In 1871 the branch line
of the Randsfjord Railway Line from Hokksund
to Kongsberg was completed, making transportation much easier. Also, new production demands, as the Remington
(1867) and Krag-Petersson
(1876) rifles were taken into use, led to expansions.
In 1862 Landmark was elected to the Norwegian Parliament, representing the constituency of Kongsberg
. He was re-elected on two non-consecutive occasions, in 1868 and 1880. Both his father and uncle had been members of Parliament. On the local political level, Jens Landmark was mayor of Kongsberg in 1851 (Sjur Aasmundsen Sexe
was mayor from January to March), 1853, 1856 and 1864, and deputy mayor in 1855 and 1861.
In addition, he was still enrolled with the military, and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 30 January 1864. In addition, he was proclaimed Knight of the Order of St. Olav in 1860, as well as Knight of the Swedish Order of the Sword
.
Jens Landmark died in 1880 in Kongsberg. He was succeeded as factory director by Ole Herman Krag. A street in Kongsberg was named for him.
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
, was the director of Kongsberg Weapons Factory from 1854 to 1880, invented the Landmark conversion
Landmark conversion
The Landmark conversion refers to a modification of the Norwegian kammerlader rifles to allow them to fire rim fire ammunition, as opposed to being caplock weapons. It was invented by Jens Landmark....
and served both as mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
as well as three periods in the Norwegian Parliament.
Personal life
He was born in UlfstenUlstein
Ulstein is a municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Sunnmøre region. The commercial and administrative centre of Ulstein is Ulsteinvik, population 5,251 . The municipality occupies the western half of the island of Hareidlandet, as well as about 30 or more smaller...
to Andreas Landmark
Andreas Landmark
-Personal life:He was born in Christiania to Nils Svensson and Karen Andersdatter Killerud. His brother was Nils Landmark. Contrary to some sources, he was not born with the name Landmark, but some of the children took the name as grown-ups....
and Jacobine Caroline Wind. His uncle was Nils Landmark
Nils Landmark
Nils L. Landmark was a Norwegian jurist, farmer and politician.-Personal life:He was born in Christiania to Nils Svensson and Karen Andersdatter Killerud. Contrary to some sources, he was not born with the name Landmark, but took the name as a grown-up...
, and he had several notable cousins, including Johan Theodor and Johan Widing Heiberg Landmark
Johan Widing Heiberg Landmark
-Personal life:He was born in Gloppen to Nils Landmark and Barbra Henriette Rantzau Heiberg. His uncle Andreas Landmark was notable as a politician, and his grandfather had migrated to Norway from Sweden....
.
He married Richarda Mathea Petrie Bruenech (1813–1854), who hailed from Kongsberg
Kongsberg
is a town and municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is located at the southern end of the traditional region of Numedal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Kongsberg....
.
Career
Jens Landmark first made a career in the Norwegian Army. He rose in the hierarchy, from Cadet in 1827 to Second Lieutenant in 1831. He later became Captain. However, from 1838 he had a parallel career at the weapons factory Kongsberg Vaabenfabrik, a forerunner of Kongsberg Defence & AerospaceKongsberg Defence & Aerospace
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace , one of two operating companies of Kongsberg Gruppen of Norway, is a supplier of defence and space related systems and products, mainly anti-ship missiles, military communications, and command and weapons control systems for naval vessels and air-defence applications...
. Originally going into apprenticeship as a surveyor, he got this job on a permanent basis in October 1840. On 1 November 1854 he became acting director, and was appointed director permanently on 26 May 1855. He succeeded Peder Christian Holst
Peder Christian Holst
Peder Christian Holst was a Norwegian politician, military officer and businessperson.He served in the Parliament of Norway during the terms 1839–1841 and 1842–1844, representing the constituency Smaalenenes Amt, and during the terms 1848–1850 and 1851–1853, representing the constituency Kongsberg...
. Landmark personally constructed the Landmark conversion
Landmark conversion
The Landmark conversion refers to a modification of the Norwegian kammerlader rifles to allow them to fire rim fire ammunition, as opposed to being caplock weapons. It was invented by Jens Landmark....
, a modification of the kammerlader
Kammerlader
The Kammerlader, or "chamber loader", was the first Norwegian breech loading rifle, and among the very first breech loaders adopted for use by an armed force anywhere in the world. A single shot black powder rifle, the kammerlader was operated with a crank mounted on the side of the receiver. This...
rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
s to allow them to fire rim fire ammunition, as opposed to being caplock weapons. The model was used by the Royal Norwegian Navy
Royal Norwegian Navy
The Royal Norwegian Navy is the branch of the Norwegian Defence Force responsible for naval operations. , the RNoN consists of approximately 3,700 personnel and 70 vessels, including 5 heavy frigates, 6 submarines, 14 patrol boats, 4 minesweepers, 4 minehunters, 1 mine detection vessel, 4 support...
. During Landmark's time as director, the factory saw some significant progresses. In 1871 the branch line
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
of the Randsfjord Railway Line from Hokksund
Hokksund
Hokksund is a town in the municipality of Øvre Eiker in the county of Buskerud in Norway.-History:Hokksund is the administrative centre, and largest town in Øvre Eiker, with a population of around 8,000. The river Drammenselva flows through the town, 500m from the centre. Hokksund has developed on...
to Kongsberg was completed, making transportation much easier. Also, new production demands, as the Remington
Remington Arms
Remington Arms Company, Inc. was founded in 1816 by Eliphalet Remington in Ilion, New York, as E. Remington and Sons. It is the oldest company in the United States which still makes its original product, and is the oldest continuously operating manufacturer in North America. It is the only U.S....
(1867) and Krag-Petersson
Krag-Petersson
The Krag-Petersson rifle was the first repeating rifle adopted by the armed forces of Norway and one of the first repeating arms used anywhere in the world. Developed by Ole Herman Johannes Krag, the action of the Krag-Petersson was uniquely actuated by an oversized hammer...
(1876) rifles were taken into use, led to expansions.
In 1862 Landmark was elected to the Norwegian Parliament, representing the constituency of Kongsberg
Kongsberg
is a town and municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is located at the southern end of the traditional region of Numedal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Kongsberg....
. He was re-elected on two non-consecutive occasions, in 1868 and 1880. Both his father and uncle had been members of Parliament. On the local political level, Jens Landmark was mayor of Kongsberg in 1851 (Sjur Aasmundsen Sexe
Sjur Aasmundsen Sexe
Sjur Aasmundsen Sexe was a Norwegian mineralogist.He graduated as cand.miner. in 1840. He first worked in Trondhjem as a mine superindendent, later at the Kongsberg Silver Mines. He was mayor of Kongsberg for three months in 1851, being succeeded by Jens Landmark.From 1860 to 1877 he was a...
was mayor from January to March), 1853, 1856 and 1864, and deputy mayor in 1855 and 1861.
In addition, he was still enrolled with the military, and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 30 January 1864. In addition, he was proclaimed Knight of the Order of St. Olav in 1860, as well as Knight of the Swedish Order of the Sword
Order of the Sword
The Order of the Sword is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on February 23, 1748, together with the Order of the Seraphim and the Order of the Polar Star.Awarded to officers, and originally intended as an award for bravery and particularly long or useful service, it...
.
Jens Landmark died in 1880 in Kongsberg. He was succeeded as factory director by Ole Herman Krag. A street in Kongsberg was named for him.