Gerhard Treschow (c.1659 – 23 May 1719) was a Danish-Norwegian merchant and industrial pioneer. Treschow was an important industrial pioneer who founded several companies in Christiania and he was one of the first Norwegians to produce large-scale paper.

Biography

He was born into a family of merchants on the island of

Møn Møn () is an island in south-eastern Denmark. Until 1 January 2007, it was a municipality in its own right but it is now part of the municipality of Vordingborg Municipality, Vordingborg, after merging with the former municipalities of Langeb ...

in south-eastern

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. After attending the

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, he was appointed as a tax collector in Christiania (now Oslo) Norway in 1683. His business operations started in 1690, when he became the owner of a brickworks at Christiania. In time, he came to own six sawmills in

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. He was a major exporter of lumber as well as the owner of a fleet of ships. Between 1693 and 1694, Gerhard Treschow began to collaborate with Ole Bentsen (1653–1734) who had a 15-year royal charter to create a paper mill at Christiania. He had worked together with

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experts and machinery delivered from

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. Export of paper started in 1696. In 1698, he demanded the forced sale of Bentsen's interests. That same year, Treschow took over the royal privileges of the paper mill. This would become the forerunner for the founding of Bentse Brug, Norway's first paper mill. He also owned Bjølsen sawmill at

Akerselva The Akerselva or Akerselven () is a river which flows through Oslo, Norway. It starts at Maridalsvannet in Oslomarka, and traverses the boroughs of Nordre Aker, Sagene, Grünerløkka, central Oslo and Grønland, finally ending at Paulsenkai ...

. By 1697, he was co-owner of four major ships and by 1705 one of the larger shipowners in Christiania.

Personal life

In 1688, he was married Karen Hansdatter Lemmich (1667–1727). In 1710, he was built his residence, Treschowgården, in Christiania where he died during 1719. His son, Justus Gotthard Treschow, (1692–1730) took over management of his father's business interests. His daughter Catharine (1690–1727) married Johannes Trellund (1669–1735) who was Bishop of the

Diocese of Viborg The Diocese of Viborg is a diocese within the Church of Denmark, covering the western part of central Jutland. Viborg Cathedral in the city of Viborg serves as the seat of the diocese's bishop. The diocese has the highest ratio of church member ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Treschow, Gerhard 1650s births 1719 deaths 17th-century Danish businesspeople 18th-century Danish businesspeople 18th-century Norwegian businesspeople Danish merchants Norwegian merchants People from Møn Merchants from Denmark–Norway

Biography

Personal life

See also

References