Rudolf Fredrik Olsen (29 September 1882 – 26 January 1951) was a Norwegian shipping magnate and Chairman of Fred. Olsen & Co.

Biography

Rudolf Fredrik Olsen was born in

Hvitsten Hvitsten is a former town in Akershus county, Norway, located between Drøbak and Son, Norway, Son. It is the smallest town that has ever existed in Norway: In 1951 it had 76 inhabitants, and an area of just 0.07 km2. Due its size it could no ...

, in

Akershus Akershus () is a traditional region and current electoral district in Norway, with Oslo as its main city and traditional capital. It is named after the Akershus Fortress in Oslo. From the middle ages to 1919, Akershus was a fief and main county ...

county, Norway. He was the son of Thomas Frederick (Fred.) Olsen (1857-1933). Olsen was educated in Britain, France and Belgium. Olsen worked in the family firm, Fred. Olsen & Co. dating from 1914. Together with his brother Thomas Fredrik Olsen, he was a partner from 1922. After their father's death in 1933, the brothers took over as leaders of the company. From 1933 he was CEO of the firm. During his leadership, the company expanded, entering the aviation business with its own airline Fred. Olsen Flyselskap. In addition it obtained partial ownership interests in Scandinavian Airlines System, Widerøe's Flyveselskap AS and Sterling Airlines A/S. Olsen held a board position in a range of companies, including Det Norske Luftfartselskap. From 1917, Olsen was Consul General to Norway from Italy. In 1938, Olsen was appointed a Knight of the 1st Class 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 ...

. He was also appointed commander of the

Order of the Crown of Italy The Order of the Crown of Italy ( it, Ordine della Corona d'Italia, italic=no or OCI) was founded as a national order in 1868 by King Vittorio Emanuele II, to commemorate the unification of Italy in 1861. It was awarded in five degrees for civi ...

and the

Order of the Crown (Belgium) The Order of the Crown (french: Ordre de la Couronne, nl, Kroonorde) is a national order of the Kingdom of Belgium. The Order is one of Belgium's highest honors. History The Order was established on October 15, 1897 by King Leopold II * ...

, was an officer of the

Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus The Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus ( it, Ordine dei Santi Maurizio e Lazzaro) (abbreviated OSSML) is a Roman Catholic dynastic order of knighthood bestowed by the royal House of Savoy. It is the second-oldest order of knighthood in the wo ...

and knight of the Order of the White Rose of Finland. ''Obituary of Rudolf Fredrik Olsen'' ('' Verdens Gang'', 15 February 1951)

References

Other sources

*Nygaard, K. M. (1999) ''Fra seilskip av tre til dampskip i linjefart. Fred. Olsens rederivirksomhet 1886–1904'' (University of Oslo) 1882 births 1951 deaths People from Vestby Norwegian businesspeople in shipping Norwegian Air Lines people Officers of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus Commanders of the Order of the Crown (Belgium) {{shipping-bio-stub