Ole Gjerdrum
Encyclopedia
Ole Eliassøn Gjerdrum was a Norwegian jurist, civil servant and businessperson.
. He was a clerk for the district stipendiary magistrate until 1811. He then worked in Copenhagen
and studied law, but when Norway achieved independence in 1814
he returned to his country of birth. After some time in the Ministry of Finance, where he advanced to assistant secretary in 1817, he was transferred to law enforcement. He tried to become burgomaster, but instead served as Chief of Police of Christiania
from 1823 to 1831.
In 1829, the so-called "Battle of the Square
" took place. Demonstrators were celebrating
the Constitution of Norway
, which had been outlawed by King Charles John of Sweden and Norway
, and the police under Gjerdrum's command intervented, causing a civic outrage. Gjerdrum was awarded the Knighthood of the Order of Vasa
for his service.
From 1831 to his death he was the stipendiary magistrate of Aker og Follo. In 1845 he founded Nydalens Compagnie
together with Adam Hiorth
, Hans Gulbranson
and Oluf N. Roll. He was a board member from 1845 to 1858. Nydalens Compagnie developed into the largest textile company in Norway from the 1890s.
was also involved in Nydalens Compagnie, and another son, Carl Ferdinand Gjerdrum
, founded an insurance company. The son Jørgen Gjerdrum was a jurist, and married Lina Lange, a daughter of dean
Alexander Lange and sister of Jacob Otto Lange
. The daughter Alette Jørgine Constanse Gjerdrum (1833-1891), married her own cousin, dean Halfdan Einar Sommerfelt, and their daughter Giggi Sommerfelt married a son of Ole Gjerdrum's business partner Adam Hiorth.
Career
He was born in StangeStange
is a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Stangebyen.-Name:...
. He was a clerk for the district stipendiary magistrate until 1811. He then worked in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
and studied law, but when Norway achieved independence in 1814
Norway in 1814
1814 was a pivotal year in the history of Norway. It started with Norway in a union with the Kingdom of Denmark subject to a naval blockade being ceded to the king of Sweden. In May a constitutional convention declared Norway an independent kingdom. By the end of the year the Norwegian parliament...
he returned to his country of birth. After some time in the Ministry of Finance, where he advanced to assistant secretary in 1817, he was transferred to law enforcement. He tried to become burgomaster, but instead served as Chief of Police of Christiania
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
from 1823 to 1831.
In 1829, the so-called "Battle of the Square
Battle of the Square
The Battle of the Square was a skirmish between Norwegian demonstrators and forces of the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway that that took place in Christiania in the evening of 17 May 1829....
" took place. Demonstrators were celebrating
Norwegian Constitution Day
Norwegian Constitution Day is the National Day of Norway and is an official national holiday observed on May 17 each year. Among Norwegians, the day is referred to simply as syttende mai or syttande mai , Nasjonaldagen or Grunnlovsdagen , although the latter is less frequent.- Historical...
the Constitution of Norway
Constitution of Norway
The Constitution of Norway was first adopted on May 16, 1814 by the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll , then signed and dated May 17...
, which had been outlawed by King Charles John of Sweden and Norway
Charles XIV John of Sweden
Charles XIV & III John, also Carl John, Swedish and Norwegian: Karl Johan was King of Sweden and King of Norway from 1818 until his death...
, and the police under Gjerdrum's command intervented, causing a civic outrage. Gjerdrum was awarded the Knighthood of the Order of Vasa
Order of Vasa
The Royal Order of Vasa was a Swedish Royal order of chivalry, awarded to citizens of Sweden for service to state and society especially in the fields of agriculture, mining and commerce. It was instituted on 29 May 1772 by King Gustav III of Sweden...
for his service.
From 1831 to his death he was the stipendiary magistrate of Aker og Follo. In 1845 he founded Nydalens Compagnie
Nydalens Compagnie
Nydalens Compagnie was a company in Nydalen, Oslo, Norway. It was founded in 1845 as a textile manufacturer, and from 1963 to 1998 it was a real estate company.-History:...
together with Adam Hiorth
Adam Hiorth
Adam Hiorth was a Norwegian merchant and industrial pioneer.-Personal life:Hiorth was born in Drøbak, as the son of shipper Fredrik Wilhelm Hiorth and Louise Caroline Brodersen. He married Anne Sofie Sommerfelt in 1849. He was an uncle of engineer Fredrik Hiorth and the grandfather of painter...
, Hans Gulbranson
Hans Gulbranson
Hans Gulbranson was a Norwegian businessperson.He hailed from Modum. He was a wholesaler in Christiania, and was one of the wealthiest persons in Norway's capital. He is best known as a founder of Nydalens Compagnie in 1845 together with Adam Hiorth, Ole Gjerdrum and Oluf N. Roll. Gulbranson was...
and Oluf N. Roll. He was a board member from 1845 to 1858. Nydalens Compagnie developed into the largest textile company in Norway from the 1890s.
Personal life
Together with Mette Alette Christine Krohn he had five sons and five daughters. The son Otto GjerdrumOtto Gjerdrum
Otto Gjerdrum was a Norwegian businessperson.He was a son of Ole Gjerdrum, and brother of Jørgen and Carl Ferdinand Gjerdrum. Through his sister Alette Jørgine Constanse Gjerdrum he was a brother-in-law of dean Halfdan Einar Sommerfelt. He was married three times...
was also involved in Nydalens Compagnie, and another son, Carl Ferdinand Gjerdrum
Carl Ferdinand Gjerdrum
Carl Ferdinand Gjerdrum was a Norwegian jurist, businessperson and royal servant.He was a son of Ole Gjerdrum, and brother of Jørgen and Otto Gjerdrum. He was the father of Albert Gjerdrum...
, founded an insurance company. The son Jørgen Gjerdrum was a jurist, and married Lina Lange, a daughter of dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
Alexander Lange and sister of Jacob Otto Lange
Jacob Otto Lange
Jacob Lange was the Norwegian member of the Council of State Division in Stockholm 1891-1892, and Minister of Auditing 1892-1893....
. The daughter Alette Jørgine Constanse Gjerdrum (1833-1891), married her own cousin, dean Halfdan Einar Sommerfelt, and their daughter Giggi Sommerfelt married a son of Ole Gjerdrum's business partner Adam Hiorth.