Jacob Severin (* 27 October 1691 in north Jutland; "† 21. March 1753 in lock Dronninglund) was a Danish wholesale merchant from Copenhagen and founder of the Greenland trade.

Life

Severin was born as a first child of the later Stadtvogts of S¸ren Nielsen (around 1655-1730), and his Mrs. Birgitte Ottesdatter. 1713 he married over 40 years the older Maren Nielsdatter (around 1651-1734), the wealthy widow of a Kopenhagener of buyer. With large diligence Severin developed a well going enterprise, which specialized in the increasing trade with Iceland and Finnmark in the following years.

While king Christian wanted VITH during his accession 1730 first trade and mission in Greenland to give up, it succeeded to the Missionar Hans Egede to convince him from the opposite to. The Danish Greenland politics should rest themselves from now on on three mutually supporting columns: Trade with the goods of the colony, Christian mission work and statement of the Danish requirement for sovereignty.

The suggestions encountered at the Danish Kaufmannschaft however little approval, which the failure of the first commercial company, Det mountains Kompagni, into which 1720er had years still before eyes. However the Severin experienced in the north land business took up the idea of the king. 1733 were lent to it the trade monopoly for goods, which was renewed 1740. Apart from subsidies for the mission Severin received the right to lead the Danish war flag and weapons. In armed conflicts on lake 1738/39 against the dutchmen it implemented the Danish interests in Greenland. Severin created important commercial points in Greenland, among other things 1734 (Qasigiannguit) and 1741 the Jacobshavn (Ilulissat), designated after it.

1749 returned to Severin its trade monopoly to the king, who passed it on to a again created company, from which 1774 the Kongelige trade (KGH) developed. It controlled the economic life of Greenland until 1979 completely, was in 18. Century however far less successfully than Severin. This concentrated itself from now on on the trade in Norway. By one of its best friends, the Missionar Paul Egede, he remained Greenland and the there mission work of time life connected.

Jacob Severin became one of the most outstanding, most influential and wealthiest buyers of Copenhagen. He married still twice, 1735 Birgitte Sophie Nygaard (1704-1739) and 1742 its related Maren Dalager (1719-1753), which gave him three daughters and only few days before it in the master seat lock Dronninglund deceased with Aalborg.

Related links

• Jacob Severin in pictures (arctic Institut Copenhagen)
• Dansk biografisk encyclopedia

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