Johan Frederik Classen, frequently also J. F. Classen, (11 February 1725 – 24 March 1792) 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 a ...

Norwegian Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to: *Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe * Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway * Demographics of Norway *The Norwegian language, including ...

industrialist,

major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...

, landowner and founder of Det Classenske Fideicommis. He served as chancellery adviser to King Frederik V. Classen built the

manor house A manor house was historically the main residence of the lord of the manor. The house formed the administrative centre of a manor in the European feudal system; within its great hall were held the lord's manorial courts, communal meals w ...

Arresødal Arresødal is a manor estate situated in Frederiksværk, in Halsnæs Municipality on the island of Zealand in Capital Region of Denmark, Region Hovedstaden, northeastern Denmark. Surrounded by forest to the west of lake Arresø, it now functions as ...

in 1773, he renovated the Neoclassical

Corselitze in 1777, and built the General's Summerhouse by the

Corselitze Forest Corselitze Forest (alternate, Corselitz; da, Corselitze skov) is located on the Danish island of Falster. Situated in the northeast of the island, it contains white pine plantations, although beech is the most common tree species. History The fo ...

Early years

Classen was born in Oslo (then called Christiania), where his father (from

Sønderborg (; german: Sonderburg ) is a Danish town in the Region of Southern Denmark. It is the main town and the administrative seat of Sønderborg Municipality (Kommune). The town has a population of 27,766 (1 January 2022),Als), was an

organist An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists. In addition, an organist may accompany congregational h ...

. The father, who had the same name as his son, was born 1697 and died 1775; his mother, Maria, born Walter (1702-1768 ), was from a Norwegian farmer family. After having gone through grammar school in his hometown, he became a theology candidate at

University of Copenhagen The University of Copenhagen ( da, Københavns Universitet, KU) is a prestigious public research university in Copenhagen, Denmark. Founded in 1479, the University of Copenhagen is the second-oldest university in Scandinavia after Uppsala Unive ...

in 1741, taking his examinations three years later."J.F. Classen"
''Dansk Biografisk Leksikon''. Retrieved 23 November 2012.

Career

Despite his studies, it was not Classen's intention to make a theological career. He seems immediately to have thrown himself into other activities after coming into contact with Norwegian businessmen, possibly also participating in the high-level college of commercial advisors known as Kommercekollegiet of which a relative, Counsellor Christian Walter, was a member. When Frederik V visited Norway in 1749, Classen accompanied Admiral Andreas Rosenpalm, who was associated with various Norwegian businessmen including Erik Anker and Matthias Wærn of Norway's Moss Cannon Foundry. When only 24, Classen became a supplier of

munitions Ammunition (informally ammo) is the material fired, scattered, dropped, or detonated from any weapon or weapon system. Ammunition is both expendable weapons (e.g., bombs, missiles, grenades, land mines) and the component parts of other weap ...

to the State, in particular as commissioner for the Moss foundry, a post he held until c. 1759. As such, he conducted negotiations with army headquarters. He seems to have had influential friends in the king's immediate circle. In 1751, he received the title of Chancellry Counsellor and in 1753, was appointed Secretary of Kommercekollegiet. Immediately after the 1750 death of the Danish merchant, Andreas Bjørn, Classen became involved in the annual delivery of munitions to the Berbers in Algiers. He began by delivering 8,000 cannonballs, followed by

gunpowder Gunpowder, also commonly known as black powder to distinguish it from modern smokeless powder, is the earliest known chemical explosive. It consists of a mixture of sulfur, carbon (in the form of charcoal) and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). Th ...

(500 centner), rope and timber, soon receiving a permanent contract to provide the delivery annually. His international trading ties developed through his connection with the former

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...

ambassador in

Copenhagen Copenhagen ( or .; da, København ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a proper population of around 815.000 in the last quarter of 2022; and some 1.370,000 in the urban area; and the wider Copenhagen metropolitan ar ...

, Marqués de Puente Fuerte. The work brought him into contact with a variety of industrialists, inciting him to become a businessman himself.Carl Frederik Bricka (ed.), "Dansk biografisk Lexikon / III. Bind. Brandt - Clavus /"
page 596. Retrieved 24 November 2012. In 1754, Classen unsuccessfully sought to establish a glassworks; the following year, he bought a ceramic kiln factory outside Copenhagen's Østerport. In 1756, a dispute arose between Classen and the directors of the Moss foundry, and by 1759, Classen ceased to be an agent there. The same year, Frederik V entrusted Classen and another businessman, Just Fabritius, with land at Agatmølle, the point where the

Arresø Arresø () is the largest lake, by area, in Denmark. It covers 40,72 km² (15.39 sq mi) and is situated on the island of Zealand 43 kilometers (27 miles) northwest of Copenhagen as the crow flies. Arresø is located in the northern parts of Z ...

runs into Isefjorden, on which to develop a cannon and munitions factory. De Peyrembert, a Frenchman, had unsuccessfully attempted to produce cannons there. Responding to the king's wishes, Classen and Fabritius embarked not only on the production of cannons and gunpowder but on all types of weaponry. As the land had been allocated by Frederik V, Classen named the foundry "

Frederiksværk Frederiksværk is a town with a population of 12,718 (1 January 2022) in Halsnæs Municipality on Zealand in Region Hovedstaden in Denmark. History A French cannon founder, Peyrembert, received permission to build a cannon factory here. Having g ...

"; it became Denmark's first factory town. Fabritius provided the capital but it was Classen who became the active leader of the Frederiksværk operations, receiving the appointment of Commissioner General for War and Munitions with the title of chancellor. The business did well, benefitting from supplies for the

Seven Years' War The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (175 ...

from 1756."Corselitzes historie"
, Det Classenske Fideicommis. Retrieved 24 November 2012. Although he was interested in the technical side of the enterprise, it was above all Classen's abilities as an administrator and businessman which led to the factory's success. Frederiksværk i Classens tid

Within a few years, Frederiksværk became Denmark's one and only industrial town. Thanks to the quality of both its gunpowder and cannons, the factory quickly became competitive. By 1765, the number of workers had increased to some 400. While there were later minor reductions in the workforce, the factory was able to support the development of a small town as the facilities expanded to include a watermill, a brickyard, an oven foundry, a candle factory, a decorative iron works, a goldsmiths and a

rope walk A ropewalk is a long straight narrow lane, or a covered pathway, where long strands of material are laid before being twisted into rope. Due to the length of some ropewalks, workers may use bicycles to get from one end to the other. Many ropew ...

. Classen's enterprise also received support from the State. In 1760, to supplement the workforce a number of tenant farms were transferred to the enterprise and in 1764 all the tenant farms in the surrounding parishes of Kregme, Vinderød, Melby and Torup were included, as well as Halsnæs, Rorup and Havelse Skove came under its jurisdiction. In 1757, as commissioner for war and munitions, Classen earned 800 rigsdaler a year while in 1760, he received the position of commissioner general of the army commissariat, the body with which he signed contracts for army supplies. When Fabritius said he wished to withdraw from Frederiksværk, the king bought the factory for 130,000 rigsdaler, but Classen was allowed to remain in control so that "on his own account he can pick and choose as he wishes." One of Classen's patrons was Saint-Germain who was striving to improve Danish artillery. In 1767, with the agreement of the king, this led to a contract whereby Frederiksværk and its only real competitor, the

Kronborg Kronborg is a castle and stronghold in the town of Helsingør, Denmark. Immortalized as Elsinore in William Shakespeare's play ''Hamlet'', Kronborg is one of the most important Renaissance castles in Northern Europe and was inscribed on the UNE ...

rifle factory, were to support Classen while the State committed an annual sum of 120,000 rigsdaler over the next 30 years for the purchase of arms and munitions from the two factories. Shortly afterwards, however, Saint-Germain was dismissed and in April 1768, an investigative committee was set up with Classen's opponent, Ditlev Reventlow (1712–1783) as chairman. The committee found that the arrangements had all been set up in favour of Classen with the result that he had to give up the Kronborg rifle factory, which was transferred to Heinrich Carl von Schimmelmann, and pay 100,000 rigsdaler for Frederiksværk without any guarantee of contracts from the state. After an attempt to reestablish Copenhagen's Gjethuset as a cannon foundry proved unsuccessful, Classen concluded a contract with the army in 1770 which guaranteed that he was to be its sole supplier of gunpowder and cannons. The contract, which also specified an annual subsidy for operating the factory in addition to payments for the supplies, was renewed every year until Classen died. Furthermore, Frederiksværk concluded contracts for supplying weapons and munitions to large trading companies and to the navy. In 1769, the business was extended to produce stoves and cooking pots although not all Classen's attempts to bring other industries to the town were successful.

Other occupations

In addition to his industrial and trading activities, Classen was also interested in agriculture and forestry. In 1768, he bought the Corselitze and Carlsfeldt estates on Falster from

Prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel Prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel (, German and ; 19 December 1744 – 17 August 1836) was a cadet member of the house of Hesse-Kassel and a Danish general field marshal. Brought up with relatives at the Danish court, he spent most of his life in De ...

and, in 1773 and 1776, established

and Grønnesøgård on the Frederiksværk estate. His powers of initiative and administration also benefitted his agricultural ventures. He established the fishing communities of Sølager and

Liseleje Liseleje is a former fishing village and popular tourist resort in Halsnæs Municipality, North Zealand, some 60 kilometres northwest of Copenhagen, Denmark. The original village is surrounded by extensive areas of summerhouses. It has merged wi ...

and developed large-scale plantations around Frederiksværk although his eagerness to persuade farmers to adopt better production methods does not appear to have led to meaningful results. In 1756, he bought a summer residence with a large garden near Østerport from the Danneskjold- Laurwigenske heirs. He increased its size in 1765 when he bought an adjacent property known as Fiskerhuset from Hans von Ahlefeldt. Today it is known as Classens Have (Classen's Garden). A patron of literature, Classen bought books at home and abroad until he had amassed a large library.

Recognition

Classen's extensive business operations brought him both wealth and recognition. In 1775, he was given the title of major-general and was awarded the Order of the Dannebrog while in 1783 he received the status of

excellency Excellency is an honorific style given to certain high-level officers of a sovereign state, officials of an international organization, or members of an aristocracy. Once entitled to the title "Excellency", the holder usually retains the right ...

. He also enjoyed friendships with the most influential figures of the times including

Adam Gottlob Moltke Count Adam Gottlob von Moltke (10 November 171025 September 1792) was a Danish courtier, statesman and diplomat, and Favourite of Frederick V of Denmark. Moltke was born at Riesenhof in Mecklenburg. His son, Joachim Godske Moltke, and his gra ...

, Hans Ahlefeldt, the

Bernstorff Bernstorff is an old and distinguished German-Danish noble family of Mecklenburgian origin. Members of the family held the title of Count/Countess, granted to them on 14.12.1767 by King Christian VII of Denmark. Notable members * Andreas Got ...

s, Saint-Germain,

Ove Høegh-Guldberg Ove Høegh-Guldberg (born ''Guldberg''; 1 September 1731 – 7 February 1808) was a Danish statesman, historian, and ''de facto'' prime minister of Denmark during the reign of the mentally unstable King Christian VII. Biography Guldber ...

, General Heinrich Wilhelm von Huth and General Peter Elias von Gähler.

Legacy

In his will, with the exception of Frederiksværk, Classen left all his assets and possessions to a charitable foundation, Det Classenske Fideicommis. It was to be used "to educate good people to become the best in the State, to support and promote industriousness and diligence in the areas most necessary for the country's well-being, and to help to alleviate poverty and misery." The fund, still with considerable assets today, has been used to establish Næsgaard Agerbrugsskole, a farming school in

Stubbekøbing Stubbekøbing () is a town with a population of 2,268 (1 January 2022) ...

, Falster (now Næsgaard Efterskole). The Classen Library in

Amaliegade Amaliegade is a street in central Copenhagen, Denmark, which makes up the longer of the two axes on which the Rococo district Frederiksstaden is centred. Amaliegade extends from Sankt Annæ Plads to Esplanaden, passing through the central plaza ...

in Copenhagen was built for his extensive library of some 20,000 volumes, with significant collections in the areas of economics, geography and science. In 1867, it was shared between the Agricultural University and the

University Library An academic library is a library that is attached to a higher education institution and serves two complementary purposes: to support the curriculum and the research of the university faculty and students. It is unknown how many academic librar ...

in Copenhagen.

Personal life

Classen married Anna Elisabeth Fabritius de Tengnagels (1735-1786). She had two daughters from her first marriage, Marie Margarethe Baroness Iselin (1756-1814) and Anna Elisabeth Baroness Iselin (1760-1805). His brother,

Peter Hersleb Classen Peter Hersleb Classen, frequently also P. H. Classen, (10 March 1738 –19 May 1825) was a Norwegian- Danish statesman and director of Det Classenske Fideicommis. Career Classen was born in Christiania, Norway. After completing schooling in Chris ...

(1738–1825), a high-level State official, later became director of Det Classenske Fideicommis."P. H. Classen"
''Dansk Biografisk Leksikon''. Retrieved 25 November 2012.

References

Rxternal links

Johan Frederik Classen
(comprehensive source) {{DEFAULTSORT:Classen, Johan Frederik 1725 births 1792 deaths 18th-century Danish businesspeople Norwegian emigrants to Denmark People from Frederiksværk Danish industrialists Danish manufacturing businesspeople Danish company founders Danish philanthropists Businesspeople from Copenhagen Danish generals Noble Knights of the Order of the Dannebrog Bibliophiles 18th-century philanthropists