Jørgen Ernst Meyer (17 May 1802 – 11 September 1873) was a Danish industrialist. He founded the company E. Meyer in 1934 and established Denmark's first

lacquerware Lacquerware are objects decoratively covered with lacquer. Lacquerware includes small or large containers, tableware, a variety of small objects carried by people, and larger objects such as furniture and even coffins painted with lacquer. Before ...

factory in 1842. He was also a co-founder of Copenhagen Industrial Society in 1838.

Early life and education

Meyer was born on 17 May 1802 at Charlottenlund on

Langeland Langeland (, ) is a Danish island located between the Great Belt and Bay of Kiel. The island measures 285 km2 (c. 110 square miles) and, as of 1 January 2018, has a population of 12,446.

, the son of Frederik Meyer (1762–1823) and Adamine Juliane Christine Thode. The family moved to

Odense Odense ( , , ) is the third largest city in Denmark (after Copenhagen and Aarhus) and the largest city on the island of Funen. As of 1 January 2025, the city proper had a population of 185,480 while Odense Municipality had a population of 210, ...

where he later apprenticed as a house painter.

Career

In 1822, Meyer started working for S. Hambroe, one of the largest painting firms in Copenhagen, while at the same time studying at the

Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts () has provided education in the arts for more than 250 years, playing its part in the development of the art of Denmark. History The Royal Danish Academy of Portraiture, Sculpture, and Architecture in Cope ...

. Meyer became one of Hambroe's most trusted employees and it was probably Meyer who inspired Hambroe to establish Denmark's first production of

oilcloth Oilcloth, also known as enameled cloth or American cloth, is close-woven cotton duck or linen cloth with a coating of boiled linseed oil to make it waterproof. Manufacture Boiled linseed oil was prepared by a long boiling of linseed oil with me ...

in 1832. After Hambroe's death, on 28 June 1834, Meyer was granted

citizenship Citizenship is a membership and allegiance to a sovereign state. Though citizenship is often conflated with nationality in today's English-speaking world, international law does not usually use the term ''citizenship'' to refer to nationalit ...

as a master painter. He also established his own oilcloth factory and in 1939 obtained a patent on the production of waterproof clothing. In 1842, he established Denmark's first

factory at

Blegdamsvej Blegdamsvej is a street in Copenhagen, Denmark, connecting Sankt Hans Torv in Nørrebro to Trianglen in Østerbro. The busy artery Fredensgade separates the Nørrebro and Østerbro sections of the street from each other. The north side of the str ...

112, specializing in lacquer trays. He was represented at the

1873 Vienna World's Fair The 1873 Vienna World's Fair () was the large world exposition that was held from 1 May to 31 October 1873 in the Austria-Hungarian capital Vienna. Its motto was "Culture and Education" (). History As well as being a chance to showcase Austro- ...

as well as a number of other international exhibitions.

Other activities

He was a co-founder of Copenhagen Industrial Society (Industriforeningen i København) in 1838 and was for a few years a member of the board of representatives. He was active as a fundraiser in connection with the construction of St. Jogn's Church (1856-61). He was also a captain in Copenhagen Fire Brigade.

Personal life and legacy

Meyer married Johanne Nicoline Schneider (1820-1897) on 15 March 1845) in

Trinitatis Church The Trinitatis Church (''Trinitatis Kirke'') is located in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It is part of the 17th century Trinitatis Complex, which includes the Rundetårn astronomical observatory tower and the Copenhagen University Library, in ad ...

in Copenhagen. He died on 11 September 1873 and is buried at

Assistens Cemetery An Assistens Cemetery () is a cemetery that functions as an expansion of another, older cemetery often in relation to a city church. Already by the end of the 17th century, Danish authorities deemed that the conditions for inner-city cemeteries we ...

. His company was after his death continued by his widow under the leadership of their eldest son Axel Meyer (born 1846). Axel Meyer and his younger brother and Emil Meyer (1856–1930) became partners in the company in 1882. In 1910, E. Meyer was headquartered in

Jorcks Passage Jorcks Passage is a passageway and associated building in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It connects the pedestrian street Strøget to Skindergade at the end of Fiolstræde. History Construction Jorcks Passage takes its name after the developer ...

. The company was from 1930 owned by E. R. Tjørn (born 1885). In 1950, it was headquartered at Farvergade 15.

References

External links