Haagen Mathiesen

Haagen Mathiesen (26 October 1759 – 12 October 1842) was a Norwegian timber merchant, ship-owner and politician.

Background He was born in Christiania (now Oslo), Norway. He was the son of timber merchant and judge Jørgen Mathiesen (1725–1764) and his wife Karen Haagensdatter Nielsen (1735–1766). He was the brother of Henriette Mathiesen. He came from a wealthy background, but lost his parents early. He graduated from Christiania Cathedral School in 1776 and then from the University of Copenhagen in 1780 with the cand.jur. degree.

Career

His first business venture, a dry goods store in Moss, failed. In March 1790 he married Beate Monsen (1766–1823), a daughter of Mogens Larsen Monsen. He soon involved himself in the Monsen family business, as a timber merchant and ship-owner, and bought the share of his father-in-law in 1797. In 1802 he inherited Linderud Manor previously owned by Mogens Larsen Monsen. Linderud Manor soon became the cornerstone of Mathiesen's family property, and the outtake of timber was concentrated to Hurdal, a few hours north of Linderud.

During the period in Denmark, his business was overseen by manager Christopher Henrik Holfeldt Tostrup. and when Eidsvold Værk was bought in 1893, the company Mathiesen Eidsvold Værk was shaped. Haagen's great-grandson Haaken L. Mathiesen took over in 1895.