Fredrik Hiorth

Fredrik Wilhelm Louis Hiorth (February 4, 1851 – January 1, 1923) was a Norwegian engineer and industrialist.

Early life and family Hiorth was born in Aker. He was the son of the sheriff there, Hans Jensenius Hiorth (1808–1902), and his wife Lena Woxen. His father was the brother of the industrialist Adam Hiorth. Fredrik married Thekla Pauline Dahlstrøm (1850–1937), a captain's daughter from Gøteborg, in 1875. Both of them were very religious. Their son Albert Hiorth (1876–1949) was a well-known engineer and a lay preacher that founded several companies.

Career After passing his examen artium in 1869 and studying engineering at the Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, Hiorth worked for the railroad in Eastern Norway until 1880. He purchased the Rodeløkka Iron Foundry (Rodeløkken Jernstøberi) in 1878, when it had only fourteen employees. when he founded the F. Hiorth Engineering Office together with his son Albert Hiorth. and the company was renamed Kolberg & Caspary. and power-plant developer. Hiorth was also a main shareholder in the company Bjølvefossen A/S, which he started in 1905 with his son Albert as CEO or administrative director. He contributed to establishing Norsk Hydro in 1905. Hiorth received the Order of St. Olav in 1902.