Peter Bøyesen
Encyclopedia
Peter Johan Bøyesen was a Norwegian
businessperson and politician.
1799 as the son of shipmaster and boat pilot Peter Bøye Larsen.
One of his sons, named Peter, became a shipbuilder.
at an early age, from 1813, and then bought his first ship in 1818, sailing from Porsgrund to Copenhagen
. Timber and iron were traded for grain. While losing the ship at sea, he replaced it by investing in new ships. The trade routes were later expanded to the Baltic Sea
. In 1834 he acquired burghership, and expanded his business as a grain and timber merchant and ship-owner.
Bøyesen was active in the local community. First, he was a benefactor for the literary circle Porsgrunds Læseselskab, founded by Jens Gasmann
in 1833. For the purpose of general enlightenment, Bøyesen founded the Henrik Wergelands Almuebogsamling, a public library. Of the latter organization he was the first chairman of the board. He was a board member of the first temperance
society in Porsgrund, named the Porsgrunds Forening mod Brændevins-Drik, founded in December 1845 with former mayor Ole Hersted Schjøtt
as chairman. He was also a founder and board member of the local seamen's society, one of the first of its kind in Norway.
In 1843 he proposed establishing the local savings bank.
This, however, was done in the role of politician. Bøyesen was elected mayor of Porsgrund
municipality for the years 1843, 1844 and 1846, having first been elected to the municipal council in 1842. Bøyesen was then elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1845, 1854, 1857 and 1859/60, representing the constituency Porsgrund
. In 1848 he had been elected deputy representative from the constituency Porsgrund og Brevig. In his political views, he was described by one historian as proto-Liberal Party (political parties did not exist until 1884), having been vocally supported by later Liberal Party founder and Prime Minister
Johan Sverdrup
in their common opposition of Conservative Anton Martin Schweigaard during the 1860 debate on the Merchant Shipping Act (Sjøfartsloven).
Bøyesen went bankrupt in July 1867, following general economic hardships. The city had seen only one bakruptcy in 1866, but 32 from 1868 to 1871. This depression was partially caused by the difficult transition from wooden to steam ships. Four months after his bankruptcy, Bøyesen died.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
businessperson and politician.
Personal life
Peter Johan Bøyesen was born in Western PorsgrundPorsgrunn
is a town and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Porsgrunn....
1799 as the son of shipmaster and boat pilot Peter Bøye Larsen.
One of his sons, named Peter, became a shipbuilder.
Career
Bøyesen started his career as a shipmaster and trader. He had been a trainee with Hans Eleonardus Møller, Sr.Hans Eleonardus Møller, Sr.
Hans Eleonardus Møller, Sr. was a Norwegian businessperson.-Personal life:Hans Eleonardus Møller was born in 1780 to dr.med. Hans Møller and his wife Eleonore Hedevig, née Rasch. His father had immigrated to Norway from their native Denmark. He was born at Onsø, but grew up at Åkre at Porsgrund...
at an early age, from 1813, and then bought his first ship in 1818, sailing from Porsgrund to 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...
. Timber and iron were traded for grain. While losing the ship at sea, he replaced it by investing in new ships. The trade routes were later expanded to the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
. In 1834 he acquired burghership, and expanded his business as a grain and timber merchant and ship-owner.
Bøyesen was active in the local community. First, he was a benefactor for the literary circle Porsgrunds Læseselskab, founded by Jens Gasmann
Jens Gasmann
-Personal life:He was born in 1776 in Gjerpen as the son of attorney Niels Egidius Gasmann and his wife Kirstine Schweder of the wealthy Zachariassen Wesseltoft family....
in 1833. For the purpose of general enlightenment, Bøyesen founded the Henrik Wergelands Almuebogsamling, a public library. Of the latter organization he was the first chairman of the board. He was a board member of the first temperance
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
society in Porsgrund, named the Porsgrunds Forening mod Brændevins-Drik, founded in December 1845 with former mayor Ole Hersted Schjøtt
Ole Hersted Schjøtt
-Personal life:Ole Hersted Schjøtt was born in 1805 to shipmaster Niels M. Schjøtt and his wife Anne Hersted. The family moved from their native Jutland to Christiania in 1808....
as chairman. He was also a founder and board member of the local seamen's society, one of the first of its kind in Norway.
In 1843 he proposed establishing the local savings bank.
This, however, was done in the role of politician. Bøyesen was elected mayor of Porsgrund
Porsgrunn
is a town and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Porsgrunn....
municipality for the years 1843, 1844 and 1846, having first been elected to the municipal council in 1842. Bøyesen was then elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1845, 1854, 1857 and 1859/60, representing the constituency Porsgrund
Porsgrund
Porsgrund is a porcelain flatware company in Porsgrunn, in Telemark county, Norway.-History:The company's production plant is a popular tourist attraction...
. In 1848 he had been elected deputy representative from the constituency Porsgrund og Brevig. In his political views, he was described by one historian as proto-Liberal Party (political parties did not exist until 1884), having been vocally supported by later Liberal Party founder and Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Norway
The Prime Minister of Norway is the political leader of Norway and the Head of His Majesty's Government. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Stortinget , to their political party, and ultimately the...
Johan Sverdrup
Johan Sverdrup
Johan Sverdrup was a Norwegian politician from the Liberal Party. He was the first Prime Minister of Norway after the introduction of parliamentarism. Sverdrup was Prime Minister from 1884 to 1889.- Early years :...
in their common opposition of Conservative Anton Martin Schweigaard during the 1860 debate on the Merchant Shipping Act (Sjøfartsloven).
Bøyesen went bankrupt in July 1867, following general economic hardships. The city had seen only one bakruptcy in 1866, but 32 from 1868 to 1871. This depression was partially caused by the difficult transition from wooden to steam ships. Four months after his bankruptcy, Bøyesen died.