Otto Dahl (engineer)
Encyclopedia
Axel Otto Dahl was a Norwegian engineer and sportsman.
He was born at Nøsted in Lier
as a son of Claus Frimann Dahl (1825–1913) og Gjerthrud Johanne Marie Thams (1840–1885). His paternal great-grandfather was counsellor of justice, Christian Lerche Dahl. In May 1911 he married Hildur Fredstad, daughter of a tanner in Kristiania. They had a daughter and a son.
He attended Aars og Voss from 1879, and finished his secondary education with the examen artium
in sciences at the university
in 1883. He attended the Norwegian Military Academy
and graduated in 1885, and in the army he reached the ranks of Second Lieutenant in 1885, Premier Lieutenant in 1892, Captain in 1897 and Major in 1907. In 1885 he enrolled in Kristiania Technical School whence he graduated in in 1888. From 1889 to 1890 he studied at Berlin Institute of Technology.
He worked for the Prussian state railway administration
in Berlin
until 1891, then returned to Norway and worked at the Hamar–Sel Line in Gudbrandsdalen for the the Norwegian State Railways
. He went on to found the company Norsk Kleber- og Skiferforretning in February 1897, and was its manager from May 1897 to November 1901. He then worked in the Public Roads Administration of Kristiania, and from 1906 in Kristiania Port Authority.
He was well known in sportsman circles. He was a founder of the skiing club SK Ull
in 1883. He was the secretary-general of Det Norske Travselskap for ten years, and edited the harness racing
calendar Norsk Travkalender. He was a judge in conformation dog shows, as an expert on scent hound
s. He was the deputy chairman of Norsk Kennelklub from 1915 to 1922, and chaired the scent hound club from 1910 to 1915. He made a name as an expert in hunting with dogs. In 1926 he issued the book Jaktprat og bikkjeprat to a favourable review in Aftenposten
.
He was born at Nøsted in Lier
Lier, Norway
Lier is an affluent municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Lier. The municipality of Lier was established on 1 January 1838...
as a son of Claus Frimann Dahl (1825–1913) og Gjerthrud Johanne Marie Thams (1840–1885). His paternal great-grandfather was counsellor of justice, Christian Lerche Dahl. In May 1911 he married Hildur Fredstad, daughter of a tanner in Kristiania. They had a daughter and a son.
He attended Aars og Voss from 1879, and finished his secondary education with the examen artium
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
in sciences at the 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 1883. He attended the Norwegian Military Academy
Norwegian Military Academy
The Norwegian Army Academy was established in 1750. It is the oldest university-level educational institution in Norway, and one of the oldest active military academies in the world. Krigsskolen primarily educates officers for the Norwegian Army. There are separate academies for the Royal...
and graduated in 1885, and in the army he reached the ranks of Second Lieutenant in 1885, Premier Lieutenant in 1892, Captain in 1897 and Major in 1907. In 1885 he enrolled in Kristiania Technical School whence he graduated in in 1888. From 1889 to 1890 he studied at Berlin Institute of Technology.
He worked for the Prussian state railway administration
Prussian state railways
The term Prussian state railways encompasses those railway organisations that were owned or managed by the State of Prussia...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
until 1891, then returned to Norway and worked at the Hamar–Sel Line in Gudbrandsdalen for the the Norwegian State Railways
Norwegian State Railways (1883–1996)
The Norwegian State Railways was a state-owned railway company that operated most of the railway network in Norway. The government agency was created in 1883 to oversee the construction and operation of all state-owned railways in Norway...
. He went on to found the company Norsk Kleber- og Skiferforretning in February 1897, and was its manager from May 1897 to November 1901. He then worked in the Public Roads Administration of Kristiania, and from 1906 in Kristiania Port Authority.
He was well known in sportsman circles. He was a founder of the skiing club SK Ull
SK Ull
Skiklubben Ull was a Norwegian Nordic skiing club based in Oslo but with its sporting facilities in Vestre Aker. Founded in 1883, it attracted several professed sportsmen who between 1883 and 1891 won six Ladies' Cups and one King's Cup, among other national events. Its members also participated in...
in 1883. He was the secretary-general of Det Norske Travselskap for ten years, and edited the harness racing
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
calendar Norsk Travkalender. He was a judge in conformation dog shows, as an expert on scent hound
Scent hound
Scent hounds are a type of hound that primarily hunts by scent rather than sight. The Scenthound breeds are generally regarded as having some of the most sensitive noses among canines....
s. He was the deputy chairman of Norsk Kennelklub from 1915 to 1922, and chaired the scent hound club from 1910 to 1915. He made a name as an expert in hunting with dogs. In 1926 he issued the book Jaktprat og bikkjeprat to a favourable review in Aftenposten
Aftenposten
Aftenposten is Norway's largest newspaper. It retook this position in 2010, taking it from the tabloid Verdens Gang which had been the largest newspaper for several decades. It is based in Oslo. The morning edition, which is distributed across all of Norway, had a circulation of 250,179 in 2007...
.