Anker Heegaard

Steffen Peder Anker Heegaard (29 July 1815 – 19 September 1893) was a Danish industrialist. His company was headquartered in Havnegade in Copenhagen and operated two manufacturing sites in Nørrebro and Frederiksværk. Products included cast ironware, steam engines and agricultural machines. He was a member of the Copenhagen City Council from 1868 to 1885 and president of Industriforeningen from 1871 to 1876.

Early life Heegaard was born in Copenhagen, the son of Mathias Anker Heegaard (1776–1837) and Henrikke Baggine Heegaard née Hornemann (1780–1849). His father was the owner of a hardware store and in 1828 also established a small iron foundry in Nørrebro. After his confirmation, Heegaard became an apprentice in his father's hardware store. He also attended in Nørregade.

Career

Heegaard and his elder brother Christian August Heegaard (1810–1879) continued their father's business after his death in 1837.

Anker Hegaard became the sole owner of the iron foundry in 1847. The company had by then also moved into the market for industrial and agricultural machines. It gradually developed into one of the largest of its kind in the country, In 1857, he acquired Frederick's Works in Frederiksværk inn auction for 188,000 Danish rigsdaler from the government. He installed a steam engine and constructed a harbor at the site. That same year he also acquired a ceramic manufactory in Blågårdsgade in Copenhagen which specialized in salt-glazed pipes. The site was then converted into an iron foundry. The company constructed a new head office and storage facilities at Havnegade 37 in 1870. A wide selection of its products, from enameled pots and other kitchenware to machines, was featured on the 1872 Nordic Exhibition. Anker Heegaards Gade in the Rysensteen Wiarter of Copenhagen and Anker Heegaardsgade in Frederiksværk are named after him.