Anders Holte
Encyclopedia
Anders Nikolai Holte was a Norwegian sea captain and navigator.
He was born in Trondenes
as a son of fisherman Bertheus Andersen and Maren Marie Eliasdatter. He started working at sea in his teens. In 1892 he was hired as a coastal pilot by the company Vesteraalens Dampskibsselskab
. The company's Richard With
used Holte in the planning of a passenger route from Bergen
to Northern Norway. Hotle was familiar with this route after a life at sea. Thus, Holte is credited with making a viable navigation system.
When Hurtigruten commenced on 2 July 1893, Holte was not involved, as he had been hired as a captain in Haalogalandske Dampskibsselskab. He held this job from 1892 to 1903, when he became office manager. He headed the company until 1910, and finished his career as coastal pilot from 1910 to 1933. He also participated in the latter phase of Nansen's Fram expedition
, piloting the ship in to Skjervøy
and southwards, being greeted by King Oscar II
in Kristiania
. Now and then Holte also piloted the Royal Norwegian Navy
gunboat HNoMS Sleipner, which on many occasions accompanied Wilhelm II of Germany on his vacations in Norway.
He chaired the regional branch of the Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue from 1894 to 1935. He died in May 1937 in Harstad
. He was honoured with HM The King's Medal of Merit
in 1930, and a memorial stone in Harstad in 1980.
He was born in Trondenes
Trondenes
Trondenes is a parish and a former municipality in Troms county in Norway. It is located along the Vågsfjorden in the present-day municipality of Harstad. Trondenes includes the majority of the island of Grytøya and part of the island of Hinnøya as well as some smaller islands...
as a son of fisherman Bertheus Andersen and Maren Marie Eliasdatter. He started working at sea in his teens. In 1892 he was hired as a coastal pilot by the company Vesteraalens Dampskibsselskab
Vesteraalens Dampskibsselskab
Vesteraalens Dampskibsselskab was a Norwegian shipping company that operated ferries in Northern Norway. It was founded by Richard With on 10 November 1881 at Stokmarknes. That same year, the shipping company's first ship - SS Vesteraalen "from 1865 was purchased from Arendals Dampskibsselskab...
. The company's Richard With
Richard With
Richard Bernhard With was a Norwegian ship captain, businessman and politician for the Liberal Left Party. He is known as the founder of Vesteraalens Dampskibsselskab and Hurtigruten.-Background:...
used Holte in the planning of a passenger route from Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
to Northern Norway. Hotle was familiar with this route after a life at sea. Thus, Holte is credited with making a viable navigation system.
When Hurtigruten commenced on 2 July 1893, Holte was not involved, as he had been hired as a captain in Haalogalandske Dampskibsselskab. He held this job from 1892 to 1903, when he became office manager. He headed the company until 1910, and finished his career as coastal pilot from 1910 to 1933. He also participated in the latter phase of Nansen's Fram expedition
Nansen's Fram expedition
Nansen's Fram expedition, 1893–1896, was an attempt by the Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen to reach the geographical North Pole by harnessing the natural east–west current of the Arctic Ocean...
, piloting the ship in to Skjervøy
Skjervøy
Skjervøy is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Skjervøy on the island of Skjervøya, where most of the inhabitants live. The main industries are fishing and ship building....
and southwards, being greeted by King Oscar II
Oscar II of Sweden
Oscar II , baptised Oscar Fredrik was King of Sweden from 1872 until his death and King of Norway from 1872 until 1905. The third son of King Oscar I of Sweden and Josephine of Leuchtenberg, he was a descendant of Gustav I of Sweden through his mother.-Early life:At his birth in Stockholm, Oscar...
in Kristiania
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. Now and then Holte also piloted the Royal Norwegian Navy
Royal Norwegian Navy
The Royal Norwegian Navy is the branch of the Norwegian Defence Force responsible for naval operations. , the RNoN consists of approximately 3,700 personnel and 70 vessels, including 5 heavy frigates, 6 submarines, 14 patrol boats, 4 minesweepers, 4 minehunters, 1 mine detection vessel, 4 support...
gunboat HNoMS Sleipner, which on many occasions accompanied Wilhelm II of Germany on his vacations in Norway.
He chaired the regional branch of the Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue from 1894 to 1935. He died in May 1937 in Harstad
Harstad
is the second largest city and municipality by population, in Troms county, Norway – the city is also the third largest in North Norway. Thus Harstad is the natural centre for its district. Situated approximately north of the Arctic Circle, the city celebrated its 100th anniversary in...
. He was honoured with HM The King's Medal of Merit
HM The King's Medal of Merit
The King's Medal of Merit is a Norwegian award. It was instituted in 1908 to reward meritorious achievements in the fields of art, science, business and public service. It is divided in two classes: gold and silver. The medal in gold is rewarded for extraordinary achievements of importance to the...
in 1930, and a memorial stone in Harstad in 1980.