Steffen Peder Anker Heegaard (29 July 1815 – 19 September 1893) was a

Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish ance ...

industrialist. His company was headquartered in

Havnegade Havnegade is a waterfront promenade in central Copenhagen, Denmark, which runs between Knippelsbro and the mouth of the Nyhavn canal. Most of the street is lined with buildings from the 1860s and 1870s that were constructed as part of the redevelo ...

in Copenhagen and operated two manufacturing sites in

Nørrebro Nørrebro (, ) is one of the 10 official districts of Copenhagen, Denmark. It is northwest of the city centre, beyond the location of the old Northern Gate (''Nørreport''), which, until dismantled in 1856, was near the current Nørreport station ...

and Frederiksværk. Products included cast ironware, steam engines and agricultural machines. He was a member of the Copenhagen City Council from 1868 to 1885 and president of Industriforeningen from 1871 to 1876.

Early life

Heegaard was born in Copenhagen, the son of Mathias Anker Heegaard (1776–1837) and Henrikke Baggine Heegaard née Hornemann (1780–1849). His father was the owner of a hardware store and in 1828 also established a small iron foundry in

. After his confirmation, Heegaard became an apprentice in his father's hardware store. He also attended Det von Westenske Institut in Nørregade.

Career

Heegaard and his elder brother Christian August Heegaard (1810–1879) continued their father's business after his death in 1837. Havnegade - Anker Heegaard

Anker Hegaard became the sole owner of the iron foundry in 1847. The company had by then also moved into the market for industrial and agricultural machines. It gradually developed into one of the largest of its kind in the country, In 1857, he acquired Frederick's Works in Frederiksværk inn auction for 188,000 Danish rigsdaler from the government. He installed a steam engine and constructed a harbor at the site. That same year he also acquired a ceramic manufactory in

Blågårdsgade Blågårdsgade is a mostly pedestrianized street in the Nørrebro district of Copenhagen, Denmark. It runs from Nørrebrogade in the northeast to Åboulevard in the southwest and passes the square Blågårds Plads. The street is known for its ma ...

in Copenhagen which specialized in salt-glazed pipes. The site was then converted into an iron foundry. The company constructed a new head office and storage facilities at

37 in 1870. A wide selection of its products, from enameled pots and other kitchenware to machines, was featured on the 1972 Nordic Exhibition.

Organisations

Heegaard was a co-founder of the Free Trade Society () in 1862 but later argued in favour of more protectionist policies. He was president of from 1871 to 1876. The organisation was the driving force behind the 1872 Nordic Exhibition in Copenhagen. Another important initiative was the opening of the new Technical Society's School in

Nørre Voldgade Nørre Voldgade ( lit. "North Rampart Street") is a street in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It runs north-east from Jarmers Plads for approximately 600 metres to Gothersgade where it turns into Øster Voldgade. The succession of Nørre Voldgade, ...

in 1876. Ge also served on the board of , where he worked for the realization of the association's new headquarters which opened in 1986. He was a member of the Copenhagen City Council from 1868 to 1885 and a co-founder of in 1881.

Personal life and legacy

Heegaard married Louise Christine Feilberg (11 December 1821 – 13 January 1905 ) on 14 September 1844 in Sindsted. She was the daughter of office manager in the

Bank of Denmark Danmarks Nationalbank (in Danish often simply ''Nationalbanken'') is the central bank of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is a non-eurozone member of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB). Since its establishment in 1818, the objective of the Nat ...

Henning Frederik Feilberg (1771–1841). Heegaard retired in 1884, ceding his company to his sons Louis Heegaard (1845–1914) and Henning Frederik Christian Mathias Anker Heegaard (1858–1910) and son-in-law Bjørn Stephensen (1855–1940). Heegaard was made a

Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog The Order of the Dannebrog ( da, Dannebrogordenen) is a Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by Christian V. Until 1808, membership in the order was limited to fifty members of noble or royal rank, who formed a single class known ...

in 1872 and in 1883. He died on 19 September 1893 and was buried in

Assistens Cemetery Assistens Cemetery ( da, Assistens Kirkegård) is the name of a number of cemeteries in Denmark. The common nominator is, as the first part of the name implies (Latin: ''assistens'' meaning assisting), an assisting cemetery for a town's churches. ...

in Copenhagen. He left DKK 350,000 to charity. His heirs operated the iron foundry in Copenhagen. Their Frederiksværk operations merged with Svendborg-based L. Lange & Co. in 1918. The company was merged into in 1930. He is commemorated with a bust at Gjethjuset in Frederiksværk. It was created by

Louis Hasselriis Louis Hasselriis (12 January 1844 – 20 May 1912) was a Danish sculptor known for his public statuary. Early life and education Hasselriis was born in Hillerød, the son of Herman Edvard Louis H (1815–1907) and Sophie Frederikke Schondel ( ...

. Anker Heegaards Gade in the Rysensteen Wiarter of Copenhagen and Anker Heegaardsgade in Frederiksværk are named after him.

References

External links

Anker Heegaard
{{DEFAULTSORT:Heegaard, Anker 19th-century Danish businesspeople 19th-century Copenhagen City Council members Businesspeople from Copenhagen 1815 births 1893 deaths