Baard Iversen
Encyclopedia
Baard Iversen was a Norwegian businessperson and politician.
Iversen was born in 1836 in Akerø
. In 1854, at the age of eighteen he left home for the city Ålesund
. Here, he began a career in trade. Also, he met the local girl Anna Johanne Georgine Junge, who he married. In 1862, he moved to the larger city Trondhjem
to establish his own trade agency. He was awarded burghership the same year, and opened his first store B. Iversen. He moved the store to larger premises one year later, and expanded the field of business.
In 1868, Iversen's company entered the shipping business, investing in a freight boat route
between Trondhjem and Frederikshald
. Iversen later became a ship-owner, his first ship built in 1872 for traffic in the North Sea
and the Baltic Sea
. In 1890 a route between Trondhjem and Newcastle
was established. Iversen also campaigned for a decent railway connection between Trondhjem and the southern cities. From 1895 he was a member of the working committee of the proposed Dovre Line, which would connect Trondhjem to the capital Oslo
via Lillehammer
. It finally opened in 1921, one year after Iversen's death. Still, he was nicknamed "the father of the Dovre Line".
Iversen was also involved in local politics and organizational life. He was a member of the executive committee of Trondhjem city council from 1881 to 1892, and chaired several public committees. He represented his city in the Norwegian Parliament as a deputy representative during the term 1892–1894. He was also chairman of the Trondheim Commercial Association (Trondhjems Handelsforening) in several periods, and was a member of the Federation of Norwegian Commercial Associations from 1894 to 1900.
Baard Iversen moved to rural Strinda
in 1890. His son-in-law Trygve Marstrand Jørgensen became a partner in the company in 1907, and took over in 1915. Baard Iversen died in 1920. He had been proclaimed Knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1900 and Commander of the same order in 1910.
His life became the inspiration for the novel Brostein, published in 2003 by Toril Brekke
.
Iversen was born in 1836 in Akerø
Aukra
Aukra is a village and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the region of Romsdalen. The administrative centre is the village of Aukra....
. In 1854, at the age of eighteen he left home for the city Ålesund
Ålesund
is a town and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Sunnmøre, and the center of the Ålesund Region. It is a sea port, and is noted for its unique concentration of Art Nouveau architecture....
. Here, he began a career in trade. Also, he met the local girl Anna Johanne Georgine Junge, who he married. In 1862, he moved to the larger city Trondhjem
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
to establish his own trade agency. He was awarded burghership the same year, and opened his first store B. Iversen. He moved the store to larger premises one year later, and expanded the field of business.
In 1868, Iversen's company entered the shipping business, investing in a freight boat route
between Trondhjem and Frederikshald
Halden
is a both a town and a municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The seat of the municipality, Halden is a border town located at the Tista river delta on the Iddefjord, the southernmost border crossing between Norway and Sweden.-History:...
. Iversen later became a ship-owner, his first ship built in 1872 for traffic in the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
and the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
. In 1890 a route between Trondhjem and Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
was established. Iversen also campaigned for a decent railway connection between Trondhjem and the southern cities. From 1895 he was a member of the working committee of the proposed Dovre Line, which would connect Trondhjem to the capital Oslo
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...
via Lillehammer
Lillehammer
is a town and municipality in Oppland county, Norway, globally known for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. As of May 2011, the population of the town of Lillehammer was...
. It finally opened in 1921, one year after Iversen's death. Still, he was nicknamed "the father of the Dovre Line".
Iversen was also involved in local politics and organizational life. He was a member of the executive committee of Trondhjem city council from 1881 to 1892, and chaired several public committees. He represented his city in the Norwegian Parliament as a deputy representative during the term 1892–1894. He was also chairman of the Trondheim Commercial Association (Trondhjems Handelsforening) in several periods, and was a member of the Federation of Norwegian Commercial Associations from 1894 to 1900.
Baard Iversen moved to rural Strinda
Strinda
Strinda is a former municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. The area encompassed the eastern part of the present-day municipality of Trondheim south and east of the main city center all the way southeast to the lake Jonsvatnet.-History:...
in 1890. His son-in-law Trygve Marstrand Jørgensen became a partner in the company in 1907, and took over in 1915. Baard Iversen died in 1920. He had been proclaimed Knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1900 and Commander of the same order in 1910.
His life became the inspiration for the novel Brostein, published in 2003 by Toril Brekke
Toril Brekke
Toril Brekke is a Norwegian novelist, writer of short stories, children's writer, biographer, translator and literary critic.-Early and personal life:...
.