Christen Knudsen

Christen Knudsen (25 January 1813 - 7 April 1888) was a Norwegian ship-owner.[1]

Personal life

Christen Knudsen was born in 1813 at Salterød near Arendal.[1] He moved to Porsgrunn in 1855.[2]

He married Guro Aadnesdatter (1808-1900), later spelt "Gurine Aanonsen". The couple had three children. Their sons Jørgen Christian Knudsen and Gunnar Knudsen both became wealthy ship-owners and influential politicians: Jørgen Christian as mayor and parliament member, Gunnar as Prime Minister of Norway. Their only daughter Serine married Johan Jeremiassen[1] and had a political career of her own, starting even before women's suffrage was introduced.[3]

Career

Having moved to Porsgrunn, the ship business flourished. As a ship-owner he owned a considerable fleet, of which fourteen ships was built at his own shipbuilding yard.[1] Together with P. M. Petersen and son-in-law Johan Jeremiassen he was described as one of "the three large ship-owners of the city".[4] He was also a navy captain. On the mainland, he invested in real estate.[1]

A ship belonging to his son Gunnar was named Christen Knudsen, but this was sunk by the Kaiserliche Marine in 1916.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Frednesalléen 1, in Eidanger–Porsgrund, by Finn C. Knudsen (1932). Hosted by Porsgrunn public library.
  2. ^ Korte biografiske notitser om enkelte gamle slægter og personer i Porsgrund, by Carl Lund. Hosted by Porsgrunn public library.
  3. ^ 1905 - politisk fornying? by Ellen Schrumpf. Hosted by Porsgrunn public library.
  4. ^ «Landlig og stille, men pokker så driftig». Fra skipsfart til industri i 1880-årene, in volume one of Porsgrunns historie, by Joh. N. Tønnessen. Hosted by Porsgrunn public library.
  5. ^ Under den 1. verdenskrig, in volume one of Porsgrunns historie, by Joh. N. Tønnessen. Hosted by Porsgrunn public library.