Michael Heltzen (22 June 1712 – 10 September 1770) was a Norwegian mining engineer. He was born in Christiania (now Oslo), Norway. He was the son of Helle Michelsen (1674-1725) and Sophie Cathrine Paulsdatter Vogt (d. 1723). He started studies at the

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

. In 1733, he went on a several-year study trip in Europe, where he toured German mining operations. He was assigned a position as civil servant ( no, assessor) at

Kongsberg Kongsberg () is a historical mining town and municipality in Buskerud, Viken county, Norway. The city is located on the river Numedalslågen at the entrance to the valley of Numedal. Kongsberg has been a centre of silver mining, arms production ...

from 1740. He served as head of the

Kongsberg Silver Mines Kongsberg Silver works () was a mining operation at Kongsberg in Viken county in Norway. The town of Kongsberg is the site of the Norwegian Mining Museum (). History Operating from over 80 different sites, Kongsberg silver mines constituted th ...

from 1756, and assumed the position of ' from 1758, and the position of ' from 1764. Heltzen chaired the committee for the construction of

Kongsberg Church Kongsberg Church ( no, Kongsberg kirke, nn, Kongsberg kyrkje) is a building and congregation of the Church of Norway located at Kongsberg in Viken county, Norway. Kongsberg Church, a large baroque church, was designed by Joachim Andreas Stuk ...

. The church was consecrated in 1761. Heltzen was a leading force in the interior decoration and furnishings, which were changed compared to the original plans. The church interior in Rococo style reflects the rock community's hierarchy, with chandeliers from Nøstetangen and Gloger organ as highlights. In 1757, he was fundamental to the establishment of the Kongsberg School of Mines (''Bergseminaret på Kongsberg''). An academic institution for mining technology, it was at that time one of Norway's few institution of higher technical and scientific education.

References

1712 births 1770 deaths Engineers from Oslo University of Copenhagen alumni Norwegian mining engineers Norwegian business executives {{Norway-engineer-stub