He was a Norwegian business magnate, estate owner and timber merchant.
He moved to London in 1819 and to Berlin in 1820, where he established an independent business as an agent in the British timber and grain trade, as a close associate of the London firm Isaac Solly and Sons. Between 1820 and 1821, he also facilitated one of history's largest art sales on behalf of his close associate Edward Solly. In 1822, he settled in Norway, after he had bought Blaafarveværket (The Blue-Colour Works) on behalf of a consortium led by the Berlin banker Wilhelm Christian Benecke. From 1822 to 1849, he was Director General and one of two owners of Blaafarveværket. Under his leadership the company became Norway's largest mining company and largest and most successful industrial enterprise in the first half of the 19th century overall, and by far the world's largest producer of cobalt blue. He was also the owner of Frogner Manor, the largest co-owner of the Hafslund estate, a co-owner of the Hassel Iron Works and a co-owner of the timber firm Juel, Wegner & Co. Most of his business activities, both in the timber, grain and cobalt segments, focused heavily on export to England, where he spent much time throughout his life.
He served as consul general to Norway of the city-republics of Hamburg, Lübeck and Bremen, and as vice consul of the Kingdom of Portugal. He was married to Henriette Seyler (1805–75), a member of the Berenberg banking dynasty of Hamburg and herself a co-owner of the Berenberg Company (Berenberg Bank); she was the youngest daughter of the company's long-time head and co-owner L.E. Seyler. She was also a granddaughter of the famous theatre principal Abel Seyler and of the Hamburg bankers Johann Hinrich Gossler and Elisabeth Berenberg.
He was a Norwegian business magnate, estate owner and timber merchant.
He moved to London in 1819 and to Berlin in 1820, where he established an independent business as an agent in the British timber and grain trade, as a close associate of the London firm Isaac Solly and Sons. Between 1820 and 1821, he also facilitated one of history's largest art sales on behalf of his close associate Edward Solly. In 1822, he settled in Norway, after he had bought Blaafarveværket (The Blue-Colour Works) on behalf of a consortium led by the Berlin banker Wilhelm Christian Benecke. From 1822 to 1849, he was Director General and one of two owners of Blaafarveværket. Under his leadership the company became Norway's largest mining company and largest and most successful industrial enterprise in the first half of the 19th century overall, and by far the world's largest producer of cobalt blue. He was also the owner of Frogner Manor, the largest co-owner of the Hafslund estate, a co-owner of the Hassel Iron Works and a co-owner of the timber firm Juel, Wegner & Co. Most of his business activities, both in the timber, grain and cobalt segments, focused heavily on export to England, where he spent much time throughout his life.
He served as consul general to Norway of the city-republics of Hamburg, Lübeck and Bremen, and as vice consul of the Kingdom of Portugal. He was married to Henriette Seyler (1805–75), a member of the Berenberg banking dynasty of Hamburg and herself a co-owner of the Berenberg Company (Berenberg Bank); she was the youngest daughter of the company's long-time head and co-owner L.E. Seyler. She was also a granddaughter of the famous theatre principal Abel Seyler and of the Hamburg bankers Johann Hinrich Gossler and Elisabeth Berenberg.
Inscription
Generalconsul Jacob Benjamin Wegner.
Gravesite Details
The grave was located in area 02.004 to the right of Old Aker Church, and the title and name "Generalconsul Jacob Benjamin Wegner" were used on the gravestone. The gravestone no longer exists.
Family Members
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Records on Ancestry
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