Nicolai Benjamin Aall (1739–1798) was 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 the ...

businessman, ship-owner, property owner and timber merchant. Aalle-gaarden - Baumanngaarden
by Finn C. Knudsen. Hosted by Porsgrunn public library.

Background

Nicolai Benjamin Aall was born at

Porsgrund Porsgrund Porcelain Factory (''Porsgrunds Porselænsfabrik'', abbreviated PP) is a porcelain flatware company located at Porsgrunn in Telemark county, Norway. History The company's production plant is a popular tourist attraction. The company wa ...

, Norway as the first son of Niels Jacobsen Aall (1702–1784) and Benedicte Henrikke Bergh (1714–1748). His father Niels Jacobsen Aall was a lumber merchant and shipowner who had been born in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

. He moved to

in 1712. Benedicte Henrikke was from

Moss Mosses are small, non-vascular flowerless plants in the taxonomic division Bryophyta (, ) '' sensu stricto''. Bryophyta (''sensu lato'', Schimp. 1879) may also refer to the parent group bryophytes, which comprise liverworts, mosses, and hor ...

and was the second of three wives. At nine years old Nicolai Benjamin lost his mother, but five years later his father married Fredrikke Sophie Rasch (1726-1760). Nicolai Benjamin's younger half-brother Jacob Aall (1754-1826) became a noted wholesaler, whereas his youngest half-sister Benedicta Henrikka Aall (1756-1813) married Severin Løvenskiold (1743–1818). Their son,

Severin Løvenskiold Severin Løvenskiold (7 February 1777 – 15 September 1856) was a Norwegian nobleman, politician and the prime minister of Norway. Family Severin Løvenskiold, the younger, was born in Porsgrunn in Telemark, Norway to Severin Løvenskiold, t ...

(1777–1856) was his nephew.Storgaden 155
in ''Eidanger–Porsgrund'', by Finn C. Knudsen (1932). Hosted by Porsgrunn public library.

Career

Aall graduated from 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 ...

and took examination as a

theologian Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...

in 1759, but later turned to work in his father's business. He acquired burghership as a merchant in 1772. In 1777 he took over two sawmills in

Skien Skien () is a city and municipality in Vestfold og Telemark county in Norway. In modern times it is regarded as part of the traditional region of Grenland, although historically it belonged to Grenmar/Skiensfjorden, while Grenland referred the Norsj ...

and forested property near the border of

Telemark Telemark is a traditional region, a former county, and a current electoral district in southern Norway. In 2020, Telemark merged with the former county of Vestfold to form the county of Vestfold og Telemark. Telemark borders the traditional ...

. In 1782 he purchased the entire work with associated properties. In 1796 he and

Diderik von Cappelen Diderik von Cappelen (21 June 1761 – 3 April 1828) was a Norwegian wholesaler, merchant, shipowner, estate owner and politician in 1814. He is often referred to as Diderik von Cappelen but he spelt his name ''Didrich von Cappelen'' and is also ...

, brother of his son-in-law

Ulrich Fredrich von Cappelen Ulrich Fredrich von Cappelen (1770–1820) was a Norwegian businessman, ship owner and timber merchant.Vestre Porsgrunn to meet the needs of the shipbuilding industry. In the same year he was registered as the owner of eleven ships, having coped through the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

which had a negative impact on business. He was described as hard-working and self-sacrificing, and handled his business with "superior proficiency", according to one historian.

Personal life

In 1758, he married Amborg Jørgensdatter Wesseltoft (1741–1815) from

, inheritor of the wealthy merchant Jørgen Simonsen Wesseltoft (d. 1760).Handel og skipsfart under krigs- og fredskonjunkturer. 1750-1807
in volume one of ''Porsgrunns historie'', by Joh. N. Tønnessen. Hosted by Porsgrunn public library. They had four sons; Nicolai Benjamin Jr. (1776–1811),

Niels Aall Niels Aall (1 December 1769 – 23 October 1854) was a Norwegian estate owner, businessman and politician. Family Niels Aall was the son of lumber merchant Nicolai Benjamin Aall (1739–98) from Porsgrunn and his wife Amjørg Jørgensdatter ...

(1769–1854),

Jørgen Aall Jørgen Aall (22 February 1771
by Inga Friis. Hosted by Porsgrunn public library. – 7 April 1833) was a

(1771–1833),

Jacob Aall Jacob Aall (27 July 1773 – 4 August 1844) was a Norwegian politician, historian, landowner and government economist. He was born the son of Nicolai Benjamin Aall (1739-1798), who was a merchant in Porsgrunn, Norway and owner of Ulefos Manor ...

(1773–1844) and three daughters Benedicta Henrikka Aall (1772–1812), Inger Aall (1774–1856) and Constance Aall (1778–1842). Benedicte Henricka married

Ulrich Fredrich von Cappelen Ulrich Fredrich von Cappelen (1770–1820) was a Norwegian businessman, ship owner and timber merchant.Hans Eleonardus Møller Sr. Through these marriages Nicolai Benjamin Aall was the grandfather of later parliament member

Hans Eleonardus Møller Hans Eleonardus Møller (8 November 1804 – 12 September 1867) was a Norwegian politician and businessperson.Ulrik Frederik Cappelen Ulrik Frederik Cappelen (13 May 1797 – 24 November 1864) was a Norwegian jurist and politician. Personal life Ulrik Frederik Cappelen was born in 1795 as the second child of ship-owner Ulrich Fredrich von Cappelen (1770–1820) and his ...

and

Nicolai Benjamin Cappelen Nicolai Benjamin Cappelen (1795–1866) was a Norwegian jurist and politician. Personal life Nicolai Benjamin Cappelen was the first child of Ulrich Fredrich von Cappelen (1770–1820) and his wife Benedicte Henrikke, née Aall (1772–1812).

and publishing house founder

Jørgen Wright Cappelen Jørgen Wright Cappelen (10 August 1805 – 6 October 1878) was a Norwegian bookseller and publisher. He was one of the founders of the publishing house Cappelen Damm. Personal life Jørgen Wright Cappelen was born at Porsgrund, Norway as the nint ...

. He died at Aallgården in Porsgrund, His wife survived him by 17 years. They are both buried in the cemetery at Østre Porsgrunn Church.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aall, Nicolai Benjamin 1739 births 1798 deaths People from Porsgrunn University of Copenhagen alumni 18th-century Norwegian businesspeople Norwegian businesspeople in shipping Nicolai Benjamin