Peter Johan Kay Petersen (9 June 1821 – 15 March 1896) was a Norwegian businessperson, known for his long leadership in the companies Peter Petersen & Co and

Nydalens Compagnie Nydalens Compagnie was a company in Nydalen, Oslo, Norway. It was founded in 1845 as a textile manufacturer, and from 1963 to 1998 it was a real estate company. History It was founded in 1845 by Adam Hiorth, Ole Gjerdrum, Hans Gulbranson and Ol ...

as well as the construction of the building complex

Victoria Terrasse Victoria Terrasse is an historic building complex located in central Oslo, Norway. The complex now houses the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. History Victoria Terrasse was built between 1884 and 1890 as an apartment complex. It was desi ...

, formerly known as ''Petersborg''.

Personal life

He was born in Christiania (now Oslo) as a son of merchant Sigwardt Blumenthal Petersen (1788–1865) and Elisabeth Carina Wiinholdt (1791–1826). He was a first cousin of Siegwart Petersen, uncle of Sigvart Petersen and great-granduncle of Carl Emil Petersen. In January 1848 he married physician's daughter Nolda Døderlein (1820–1907). She was Danish.Genealogy
The couple did not have children of their own, but when Petersen's sister-in-law and her husband died, they adopted their nephew

Peter Arnoldus Petersen Peter Arnoldus Petersen (21 March 1851 – 12 August 1916) was a Norwegian businessman. He was born in Christiania as a son of a German father and Danish mother; merchant Johan Gottfried Schmidt and Frederikke Døderlein. Both his parents died in ...

Career

In 1846, Peter Petersen received his burghership in Christiania, and took over his father's dry goods store, including the building at '' Karl Johans gate 16''. The company was later named Peter Petersen & Co, and expanded considerably. While running this company, Petersen also forayed into other branches of enterprise. He became manager of the textile manufacturer

in 1858 and served as such until 1889. He was also chairman of the board from 1868 to his death in 1896. He also founded

Christiania Mekaniske Væveri __NOTOC__ Christiania may refer to: Businesses and organizations * Christiania Bank, a former Norwegian bank * Christiania Theatre in Oslo, Norway * Christiania Spigerverk, a steel company which was founded in Oslo, Norway, in 1853 * Christiania ...

in 1847 together with Iver Olsen and the Nydalens Compagnie associates

Adam Hiorth Adam Severin Hiorth (16 December 1816 – 20 December 1871) was a Norwegian merchant and industrial pioneer. Personal life Hiorth was born in Drøbak as a son of shipmaster Fredrik Wilhelm Hiorth (1776–1844) and Louise Caroline Brodersen ( ...

Hans Gulbranson Hans Gulbranson (1787–1868) was a Norwegian businessperson. He was a pioneer in the development of textile industry in Norway in the mid-1800s. Gulbranson was from Modum in Buskerud, Norway. He was a wholesaler in Christiania and was one of ...

and Oluf Nicolai Roll, and was among the owners of Grorud Kledefabrikk. He chaired the traders' interest group ''Christiania Handelsstands Forening'' from 1874 to 1880 and 1882 to 1886, and later became an honorary member. He was appointed Austrian consul in 1866, and consul general for the

Austro-Hungarian Empire Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...

in 1874. He led the development of what is now

between 1884 and 1890, which replaced more squalid dwellings known for their poor inhabitants. The new apartment complex was called ''Petersborg'', but in 1913, in the aftermath of the 1899 real estate crash in Christiania, the complex had to be sold to the Norwegian state. The

Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government department responsible for the state's diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral relations affairs as well as for providing support for a country's citizens who are abroad. The entit ...

is now located there. Petersen owned the country house "Gimle" near Frogner Church, and led an active upper-class social life there. He headed the arrangement committee for the famous speed skating race at Frognerkilen in 1885 between Axel Paulsen and Renke van der Zee. He was also a benefactor for city theatres, for the

Museum of Decorative Arts and Design A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific importance. Many public museums make these i ...

and Oldsakssamlingen. Petersen was decorated as a Commander of the

Order of St. Olav The Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav ( no, Den Kongelige Norske Sankt Olavs Orden; or ''Sanct Olafs Orden'', the old Norwegian name) is a Norwegian order of chivalry instituted by King Oscar I on 21 August 1847. It is named after King Olav II ...

(1894), the Order of Vasa and the Order of Franz Joseph. When he died in 1896, his adoptive son inherited the family company and the title of consul, later becoming chair of Nydalens Compagnie in 1911. The family company was later run by

Hans Bergsland Hans Bergsland (15 November 1878 – 9 June 1956) was a Norwegian fencer, sports official and businessperson. He was born in Kristiania, was an older brother of Jacob Bergsland and represented the fencing club Kristiania FK. He competed a ...

from 1916 to 1922, and thereafter by Oscar Midtskau under the name ''Peter Petersen & Co.s Eftf''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Petersen, Peter 1821 births 1896 deaths Businesspeople from Oslo Commanders of the Order of Vasa Recipients of the Order of Franz Joseph