Gerhard Treschow (c.1659 – 23 May 1719) was a Danish-Norwegian merchant and industrial pioneer. Treschow was an important industrial pioneer who founded several companies in Christiania and he was one of the first Norwegians to produce large-scale paper.
Biography
He was born into a family of merchants on the island of
Møn
Møn () is an island in south-eastern Denmark. Until 1 January 2007, it was a municipality in its own right but it is now part of the municipality of Vordingborg, after merging with the former municipalities of Langebæk, Præstø, and Vordingbo ...
in south-eastern
Denmark
)
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, song_type = National and royal anthem
, image_map = EU-Denmark.svg
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, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark
...
. After attending the
University of Utrecht
Utrecht University (UU; nl, Universiteit Utrecht, formerly ''Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht'') is a public research university in Utrecht, Netherlands. Established , it is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands. In 2018, it had an enrollme ...
, he was appointed tax collector as tax collector in
Christiania (now Oslo) Norway in 1683. His business operations started in 1690, when he became the owner of a brickworks at Christiania. In time, he came to own six sawmills in
Norderhov
Norderhov is a former municipality located within Ringerike in Buskerud county, Norway.
Municipality
Norderhov municipality was established on January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). According to the 1835 census the municipality had a popul ...
. He was a major exporter of lumber as well as the owner of a fleet of ships.
Between 1693 to 1694, Gerhard Treschow began to collaborate with
Ole Bentsen (1653-1734) who had a 15 year royal charter to create a paper mill at Christiania. He had worked together with
Dutch
Dutch commonly refers to:
* Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands
* Dutch people ()
* Dutch language ()
Dutch may also refer to:
Places
* Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States
* Pennsylvania Dutch Country
People E ...
experts and machinery delivered from
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
. Export of paper started in 1696. In 1698, he demanded the forced sale of Bentsen's interests. That same year, Treschow took over the royal privileges of the paper mill. This would become the forerunner for the founding of
Bentse Brug
Bentse Brug is a former industrial installation in Oslo, Norway, near the river Akerselva. At the site was originally a corn mill, and from 1696 the first paper mill in Norway started its operation. In 1838 Norway's first paper machine was insta ...
, Norway's first paper mill. He also owned Bjølsen sawmill at
Akerselva
Akerselva or Akerselven ( en, Aker River) is a river which flows through Oslo. It starts at Maridalsvannet in Oslomarka, and traverses the boroughs of Nordre Aker, Sagene, Grünerløkka, central Oslo and Grønland, whereby it finally ends at P ...
. By 1697, he was co-owner of four major ships and by 1705 one of the larger shipowners in Christiania.
Personal life
In 1688, he was married Karen Hansdatter Lemmich (1667–1727).
In 1710, he was built his residence, Treschowgården, in Christiania where he died during 1719.
His son, Justus Gotthard Treschow, (1692-1730) took over management of his father's business interests. His daughter Catharine (1690-1727) married Johannes Trellund (1669-1735) who was Bishop of the
Diocese of Viborg
The Diocese of Viborg is a diocese within the Church of Denmark, covering the western part of central Jutland. Viborg Cathedral in the city of Viborg serves as the seat of the diocese's bishop. The diocese has the highest ratio of church member ...
.
See also
*
Treschow (noble family)
Treschow is a family originating in Denmark and with branches in Norway and Sweden. The family name means "wooden shoe-maker" and the family later counted many merchants in the 17th century and priests in the 18th century. A member of the family, ...
References
1659 births
1719 deaths
17th-century Danish businesspeople
18th-century Danish businesspeople
18th-century Norwegian businesspeople
Danish merchants
Norwegian merchants
People from Møn
Danish emigrants to Norway
{{Norway-business-bio-stub