Rudolf Olsen
Encyclopedia
Rudolf Fredrik Olsen was a Norwegian
shipping magnate and Chairman of Fred. Olsen & Co.
.
, in Akershus
county, Norway
. He was the son of Thomas Frederick (Fred.) Olsen
(1857-1933). Olsen was educated in Britain
, France
and Belgium
.
Olsen worked in the family firm, Fred. Olsen & Co.
dating from 1914. Together with his brother Thomas Fredrik Olsen
, he was a partner from 1922. After their father's death in 1933, the brothers took over as leaders of the company. From 1933 he was CEO of the firm. During his leadership, the company expanded, entering the aviation business with its own airline Fred. Olsen Flyselskap. In addition it obtained partial ownership interests in Scandinavian Airline Systems, Widerøe's Flyveselskap AS
and Sterling Airlines A/S
.
Olsen held a board position in a range of companies, including Det Norske Luftfartselskap
. From 1917, Olsen was Consul General to Norway from Italy
. In 1938, Olsen was appointed a Knight of the 1st Class of the Order of St. Olav. He was also appointed commander of the Order of the Crown of Italy
and the Order of the Crown (Belgium)
, was an officer of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
and knight of the Order of the White Rose of Finland.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
shipping magnate and Chairman of Fred. Olsen & Co.
Fred. Olsen & Co.
Fred. Olsen & Co. is a large shipping company based in Oslo, Norway. The company was founded by Petter Olsen in 1848. Today it is the holding company that controls the Olsen family's interest through Bonheur and Ganger Rolf.-History:...
.
Biography
Rudolf Fredrik Olsen was born in HvitstenHvitsten
Hvitsten is a former town in Akershus county, Norway, located between Drøbak and Son.It is the smallest town that has ever existed in Norway: In 1951 it had 76 inhabitants, and an area of just 0.07 km². Because of its size it could not be established as a municipality of its own, and it had to...
, in Akershus
Akershus
- Geography :The county is conventionally divided into the traditional districts Follo and Romerike, which fill the vast part of the county, as well as the small exclave west of Oslo that consists of Asker and Bærum...
county, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. He was the son of Thomas Frederick (Fred.) Olsen
Thomas Fredrik Olsen (born 1857)
Thomas Fredrik Olsen was a Norwegian businessman and ship owner of Fred. Olsen & Co.Thomas Fredrik Olsen Thomas Fredrik Olsen(15 October 1857- 29 January 1933) was a Norwegian businessman and ship owner of Fred. Olsen & Co.Thomas Fredrik Olsen Thomas Fredrik Olsen(15 October 1857- 29 January 1933)...
(1857-1933). Olsen was educated in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
Olsen worked in the family firm, Fred. Olsen & Co.
Fred. Olsen & Co.
Fred. Olsen & Co. is a large shipping company based in Oslo, Norway. The company was founded by Petter Olsen in 1848. Today it is the holding company that controls the Olsen family's interest through Bonheur and Ganger Rolf.-History:...
dating from 1914. Together with his brother Thomas Fredrik Olsen
Thomas Fredrik Olsen
Thomas Fredrik Olsen was a Norwegian ship-owner. Son of Fredrik Olsen and born in Hvitsten, he worked in the family company Fred. Olsen & Co. from 1920. He has held a board position in a range of companies, including Det Norske Luftfartselskap and Scandinavian Airlines System. He is the father of...
, he was a partner from 1922. After their father's death in 1933, the brothers took over as leaders of the company. From 1933 he was CEO of the firm. During his leadership, the company expanded, entering the aviation business with its own airline Fred. Olsen Flyselskap. In addition it obtained partial ownership interests in Scandinavian Airline Systems, Widerøe's Flyveselskap AS
Widerøe
Widerøe's Flyveselskap AS, trading as Widerøe, is a regional airline in Norway and part of the SAS Group. It operates a fleet of 34 Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft , serving 41 domestic and 6 international destinations...
and Sterling Airlines A/S
Sterling Airlines
Sterling Airlines A/S was a low-cost airline with its head office at Copenhagen Airport South in Dragør, Dragør Municipality, Denmark. It was created in September 2005 through the merger of two Danish airlines — Sterling European Airlines and Maersk Air — which had been bought by the Icelandic...
.
Olsen held a board position in a range of companies, including Det Norske Luftfartselskap
Det Norske Luftfartselskap
Det Norske Luftfartselskap A/S or DNL, trading internationally as Norwegian Air Lines, was an airline and flag carrier of Norway. Founded in 1927, it operated domestic and international routes from 1935 to 1941 and from 1946 to 1951...
. From 1917, Olsen was Consul General to Norway from Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. In 1938, Olsen was appointed a Knight of the 1st Class of the Order of St. Olav. He was also appointed commander of the Order of the Crown of Italy
Order of the Crown of Italy
The Order of the Crown of Italy was founded as a national order in 1868 by King Vittorio Emanuele II, to commemorate the unification of Italy in 1861...
and the Order of the Crown (Belgium)
Order of the Crown (Belgium)
The Order of the Crown is an Order of Belgium which was created on 15 October 1897 by King Leopold II in his capacity as ruler of the Congo Free State. The order was first intended to recognize heroic deeds and distinguished service achieved from service in the Congo Free State - many of which acts...
, was an officer of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
The Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus is an order of chivalry awarded by the House of Savoy, the heads of which were formerly Kings of Italy...
and knight of the Order of the White Rose of Finland.
Other sources
- Nygaard, K. M. (1999) Fra seilskip av tre til dampskip i linjefart. Fred. Olsens rederivirksomhet 1886–1904 (University of Oslo)