Olaf Ditlev-Simonsen (born 1865)

Olaf Ditlev-Simonsen (15 December 1865 – 16 January 1960) was a Norwegian ship owner who developed one of the largest shipping companies in Norway.

Olaf Ditlev-Simonsen
Ditlev-Simonsen in 1920
Born(1865-12-15)15 December 1865
Sarpsborg, Norway
Died16 January 1960(1960-01-16) (aged 94)
NationalityNorwegian
Occupationship owner
ChildrenOlaf Ditlev-Simonsen
John Ditlev-Simonsen
Sverre Ditlev-Simonsen
Awards

Personal life

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Ditlev-Simonsen was born in Sarpsborg to Ole Christian Simonsen and Christiane Dorthea Christiansen.[1] He was the father of Olaf Ditlev-Simonsen Jr (1897–1978),[2] father of Sverre Ditlev-Simonsen,[3] and grandfather of politician Per Ditlev-Simonsen (minister of defense and mayor of Oslo).[2][4]

Career

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Ditlev-Simonsen developed one of the largest shipping companies in Norway, together with three of his sons. He was also active in organizational work, and was a board member of the Norwegian Shipowners' Association, Kristiania Rederiforening, Oslo chamber of commerce and the Port Board of Oslo.[2] He was elected member of the municipal council of Kristiania, and served as vice mayor 1914–1915.[5] In this position he was quite busy with the 1914 Jubilee Exhibition at Frogner and Skarpsno.[2] The maritime part of the exhibition laid the foundation for the Norwegian Maritime Museum. Ditlev-Simonsen was a proponent for the establishment of the museum, and became a member of the board from 1915.[2] He was chairman of the board from 1922 to 1933.[6]

He chaired the board of Norges Handels og Sjøfartstidende from 1911 to 1939, and chaired the board of Det Søndenfjelds-Norske Dampskibsselskab from 1924 to 1940.[2]

He was decorated Knight, First Class of the Order of St. Olav in 1939, and was Commander of the Order of Vasa.[2]

Ditlev-Simonsen was an eager sports sailor, and had the two cutters Vav and Isabel Alexandra.[6]

Selected works

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  • En sjøgutt ser tilbake

References

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  1. ^ Gram, Harald; Steenstrup, Bjørn, eds. (1948). "Ditlev-Simonsen, Olaf". Hvem er hvem? (in Norwegian). Oslo: Aschehoug. p. 119. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Kortsen, Bjarne. "Olaf Ditlev-Simonsen". In Helle, Knut (ed.). Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  3. ^ Steenstrup, Bjørn, ed. (1973). "Ditlev-Simonsen, Sverre". Hvem er hvem? (in Norwegian). Oslo: Aschehoug. p. 125. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  4. ^ Kortsen, Bjarne. "Per Ditlev-Simonsen". In Helle, Knut (ed.). Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  5. ^ Bolstad, Erik (ed.). "Olaf Ditlev-Simonsen". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  6. ^ a b Hoffstad, Einar, ed. (1935). "Ditlev-Simonsen, O.". Merkantilt biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian) (1st ed.). Oslo: Yrkesforlaget. p. 166.