Carl Frederik Tietgen

Carl Frederik Tietgen
Born	March 19, 1829(1829-03-19) Odense
Died	19 October 1901(1901-10-19) (aged 72) Copenhagen
Resting place	Graveyard at Lyngby Church
Nationality	Danish
Occupation	Industrialist, real estate developer
Known for	Foundation of numerous companies Completion of Frederik's Church

Carl Frederik Tietgen (19 March 1829 – 19 October 1901) was a Danish financier and industrialist. The founder of numerous prominent Danish companies, many of which are still in operation today, he played an important role in the industrialisation of Denmark. Notably also forming conglomerates, several of Tietgen's companies attained a monopoly-like status, which cemented their durability.^[1]

A dedicated Grundtvigian, Tietgen made the completion of the Marble Church which he financed at his own expense.

Early life and career

Tietgen was born on 19 March 1829 in Odense, the son of a manager of a social club for the local Bourgeoisie where he helped out throughout his childhood. After finishing his commercial apprentice, he worked five years in Manchester in England, with travels to northern Germany, Norway and Sweden. In England, Tietgen gained experience in private banking, an industry still in its infancy in Denmark at that time.^[1]

Foundation of Privatbanken

Back in Denmark, he founded a whole-saler business, C.F. Tietgen & Co, at Copenhagen's Gammeltorv Market in 1855, but this career would not last long. In 1857, after his involvement as curator in a bankruptcy had demonstrated a remarkable eye for economy and strategic thinking, he was invited to join the management of Privatbanken Bank which under him developed into Denmark's first investment bank. He also introduced the cheque to Denmark.^[1]

This enabled him to financially carry out his numerous investments and startups. Occasionally he also invested his own money in projects.^[1]

Founded companies

• * Det Store Nordiske Telegraf-Selskab (1868)

The companies founded or co-founded by Tietgen include:

• De Danske Sukkerfabrikker (1872)
• B&W (1872)
• Thingvalla Line (1879)
• De Danske Spritfabrikker (1881)
• Kjøbenhavns Telefon Aktieselskab|KTAS (1982)
• Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab (1866 )
• Tuborg

Philanthropist

Statue of Tietgen at Sankt Annæ Plads in Copenhagen

Tietgen was also to some extent a philanthropist, notably paying for the completion of Marble Church. He also built Taarbæk Church on the Øresund coast north of Copenhagen.

Personal life

Tietgen married the then 19-year-old Laura Charlotte Jørgensen on August 8, 1855, in Vejstrup on the island of Funen.

Tietgen suffered partial paralysis following a minor brain hemorrhage in 1896. He was weakened for the last years of his life, causing him to retire from most of his positions. Tietgen died in the evening of October 19, 1901 a memorial ceremony took place at the Marble Church on October 25. He was buried in Lyngby on October 29, 1901.^[1]

Sources

• (Danish) Lange, Ole. Stormogulen: CF Tietgen, en finansmand, hans imperium og hans tid 1829-1901. Copenhagen: Gyldendal, 2006. ISBN 87-02-05278-4.
• (Danish) Marstrand, Jacob. CF Tietgen: Et Livsbillede fra det nittende Aarhundrede. 3rd ed. Copenhagen: Gyldendal, 1929.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} "C.F. Tietgen". Gyldendal. http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Erhverv,_karriere_og_ledelse/Erhvervsliv/Erhvervsfolk/Carl_Frederik_Tietgen. Retrieved 2010-07-15. 

External links

• Biography (Danish)

Persondata
Name	Tietgen, Carl Frederik
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	19 March 1829
Place of birth	Odense
Date of death	19 October 1901
Place of death	Copenhagen