Ludwig Knoop
Encyclopedia
Johann Ludwig Knoop was a cotton
merchant and entrepreneur from the city-state of Bremen
, who became one of the richest entrepreneurs in his time. He was created a Baron
by Alexander II of Russia
.
He studied in Bremen, and learned the cotton business at Manchester
with the Bremen-born cotton exporter Johan Frerichs's company De Jersey & Co. He went to Moscow
as assistant to the firm's agent Franz Holzhauer in 1840. That year he established the first power driven cotton mill
in Russia
.
In 1842 the British ban on the export of cotton machinery, imposed in 1774 to protect the country's head start
in technology, was lifted, allowing the manufacture of cotton to expand in Russia. Knoop used English credit to build and fit out mills with English equipment. The commissioning in 1847 of Morozov's Nikolsk mill at Orekhovo-Zuyevo
, Knoop's sixth, was seen as a landmark in the industry's development in Russia.
In 1852 he founded L Knoop & Co, in association with De Jersey and the machinery manufacturer Platt Brothers
of Oldham
, Manchester.
In 1857 he built the largest cotton spinning mill in Europe on the island of Krenholm at Narva
, Estonia
, which employed 4500 people. The Narva factory had nearly half a million spindles driven by water-power. It paid low wages, but took its responsibilities to its workforce seriously, introducing a health insurance scheme and supplying workers with dwellings, kindergartens and schools.
Eventually he was responsible for equipping 187 cotton mills on Russian territory.
However Knoop came under attack from the Russian Technical Society for retarding industrial development in the country.
This was because he relied exclusively on English machinery and also supplied the factories with English managers, technicians and supervisors.
He was created a baron by Tsar Alexander II
in 1877. He died on 16 August 1894 at St Magnus, Bremen, where a city park created from his estate is named after him.
His descendants include Ernst Albrecht and Ursula von der Leyen
.
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
merchant and entrepreneur from the city-state of Bremen
Bremen (state)
The Free Hanseatic City of Bremen is the smallest of Germany's 16 states. A more informal name, but used in some official contexts, is Land Bremen .-Geography:...
, who became one of the richest entrepreneurs in his time. He was created a Baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
by Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881...
.
He studied in Bremen, and learned the cotton business at Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
with the Bremen-born cotton exporter Johan Frerichs's company De Jersey & Co. He went to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
as assistant to the firm's agent Franz Holzhauer in 1840. That year he established the first power driven cotton mill
Cotton mill
A cotton mill is a factory that houses spinning and weaving machinery. Typically built between 1775 and 1930, mills spun cotton which was an important product during the Industrial Revolution....
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
In 1842 the British ban on the export of cotton machinery, imposed in 1774 to protect the country's head start
Head start (positioning)
In positioning, a head start is a start in advance of the starting position of others in competition, or simply toward the finish line or desired outcome...
in technology, was lifted, allowing the manufacture of cotton to expand in Russia. Knoop used English credit to build and fit out mills with English equipment. The commissioning in 1847 of Morozov's Nikolsk mill at Orekhovo-Zuyevo
Orekhovo-Zuyevo
Orekhovo-Zuyevo is an industrial city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located east of Moscow. It is situated in a forested area on the Klyazma River . The city was established in 1917 when three villages were merged, hence its name. Population: -History:The first facts about Orekhovo-Zuyevo date back...
, Knoop's sixth, was seen as a landmark in the industry's development in Russia.
In 1852 he founded L Knoop & Co, in association with De Jersey and the machinery manufacturer Platt Brothers
Platt Brothers
Platt Brothers & Co Ltd, was a British company based at Oldham, in North West England. They were textile machinery manufacturers, iron founders and colliery proprietors, and by the end of the 19th century, had become the largest textile machinery company in the world, employing over 12,000 workers...
of Oldham
Oldham
Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amid the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester...
, Manchester.
In 1857 he built the largest cotton spinning mill in Europe on the island of Krenholm at Narva
Narva
Narva is the third largest city in Estonia. It is located at the eastern extreme point of Estonia, by the Russian border, on the Narva River which drains Lake Peipus.-Early history:...
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
, which employed 4500 people. The Narva factory had nearly half a million spindles driven by water-power. It paid low wages, but took its responsibilities to its workforce seriously, introducing a health insurance scheme and supplying workers with dwellings, kindergartens and schools.
Eventually he was responsible for equipping 187 cotton mills on Russian territory.
However Knoop came under attack from the Russian Technical Society for retarding industrial development in the country.
This was because he relied exclusively on English machinery and also supplied the factories with English managers, technicians and supervisors.
He was created a baron by Tsar Alexander II
Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881...
in 1877. He died on 16 August 1894 at St Magnus, Bremen, where a city park created from his estate is named after him.
His descendants include Ernst Albrecht and Ursula von der Leyen
Ursula von der Leyen
Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen is a German politician of the conservative Christian Democratic Union.Since 30 November 2009, she has served as the Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs in the Second Cabinet Merkel. In the First Cabinet Merkel , she served as Federal Minister of Family...
.