Thorvald Meyer (23 September 1818 – 3 February 1909) 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 ...

businessman and philanthropist. He was a wholesaler, retailer and shipowner as well as a land owner and developer.

Biography

Meyer was born in Christiania (now Oslo), Norway. He was one of twelve children born to of Jacob Peter Meyer (1781–1856) and Ingeborg Marie Barth Muus (1781–1835). His father was a successful merchant, shipowner and timber wholesaler. As the son of a wealthy businessman, he received his education in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

and

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 ...

. He entered the father's firm in 1848. He also became involved in the business enterprise of his wife's father,

Andreas Tofte Andreas Tofte (28 March 1795 – 27 September 1852) was a Norwegian people, Norwegian businessperson, elected official and philanthropist. He served as the first Mayor of Oslo, Norway. Biography He was born on the Tofte, Norway, Tofte farm ...

. In 1852, following the death of his father-in-law, he took over the family enterprises. In 1856, upon the death of his father, he inherited his father's company. Thorvald Meyer also built a personal fortune primarily on real estate development in

Oslo Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population ...

and also in

forestry Forestry is the science and craft of creating, managing, planting, using, conserving and repairing forests, woodlands, and associated resources for human and environmental benefits. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands. ...

including forest properties at

Nord-Odal Nord-Odal is a municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Odalen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Sand. Other villages in the municipality include Knapper and Mo. The ...

Hedmark Hedmark () was a county in Norway before 1 January 2020, bordering Trøndelag to the north, Oppland to the west, Akershus to the south, and Sweden to the east. The county administration is in Hamar. Hedmark and Oppland counties were merged int ...

. He had inherited from his father, the southern part of Meyerløkka in the district of St. Hanshaugen. The property had been acquired by his father between 1807 and 1856. In 1859 he created a plan for the development of the property together with his brother-in-law, Thomas Johannessen Heftye (1822–1886). In 1862, Meyer acquired and developed the then almost uninhabited area of

Grünerløkka Grünerløkka is a borough of the city of Oslo, Norway. Grünerløkka became part of the city of Oslo (then Christiania) in 1858. Grünerløkka was traditionally a working class district; however, since the late 20th century the area has increasi ...

. Thorvald Meyers gate, one of the main thoroughfares running north to south through the district of

, was named in his honor.

Personal life

Meyer was married to Annichen Mathea Tofte (1820–1900), daughter of

(1795–1852) and Christine Søeberg (1797–1848). The couple resided in a property located at Karl Johans gate 37 in Oslo. The building had originally been owned by Andreas Tofte. After a fire in 1867, the building was destroyed. A new residence was completed for the family in 1869 based upon designs by architect

Wilhelm von Hanno Andreas Friedrich Wilhelm von Hanno (15 December 1826 – 12 December 1882) was a German-born Norwegian architect, sculptor and painter. He was among the leading architects in Norway during the middle of the 1800s. Biography Wilhelm von Hanno ...

(1826–1882). Their daughter Ragnhild Meyer (1849–1937) was married to diplomat

Axel Heiberg Axel Heiberg (16 March 1848 – 4 September 1932) was a Norwegian diplomat and financier as well as a patron of the arts and sciences. Biography Heiberg was born in Kristiania (now Oslo), Norway. He was the son of Johan Fritzner Heiberg (1805– ...

(1848–1932). Their daughter Thea Meyer (1846–1922) was married to Prime Minister

Christian Homann Schweigaard Christian Homann Schweigaard (14 October 1838 – 24 March 1899) was a Norwegian politician of the Conservative Party. He served as the 3rd prime minister for two months in 1884, a period after the impeachment of his predecessor Christian August S ...

. And their daughter Ingeborg Meyer (1843–1882) was married to

Lord Chamberlain The Lord Chamberlain of the Household is the most senior officer of the Royal Household of the United Kingdom, supervising the departments which support and provide advice to the Sovereign of the United Kingdom while also acting as the main c ...

Herman Severin Løvenskiold (1838–1910), the son of Otto Joachim Løvenskiold. Meyer donated several of his properties to the city. He was also a supporter of the arts, in particular the theater. Thorvald Meyer was appointed Commander of the 1st Class of Order of St. Olav. He died during 1909 and was buried at

Vår Frelsers Gravlund The Cemetery of Our Saviour ( no, Vår Frelsers gravlund) is a cemetery in Oslo, Norway, located north of Hammersborg in Gamle Aker district. It is located adjacent to the older Old Aker Cemetery and was created in 1808 as a result of the great ...

in Oslo.

References

1818 births 1909 deaths Businesspeople from Oslo Philanthropists from Oslo Norwegian landowners Recipients of the St. Olav's Medal Burials at the Cemetery of Our Saviour 19th-century philanthropists {{Norway-business-bio-stub