Jens Henrik Beer
Encyclopedia
Jens Henrik Beer was a Norwegian businessperson, farmer and politician.
He was born in Flekkefjord
as a son of ship-owner and consul
Christopher Beer (1770–1839) and Anne Malene Tjørsvaag (1772–1820). He was an older brother of Anders Beer
, and a grandson of Jens Henrik Beer, Sr.
. He attended school in Bergen
and England
, and then worked for a period in Bergen before returning to his hometown in 1821. In 1824 he married Andrea Laurentze Mølbach (1802–1872).
He worked as a ship-owner
, shipbuilder, sawmill owner and merchant. He was the vice consul
for Denmark
from 1830 to 1853, the Russian Empire
from 1932 to 1863 and Holland from 1853 to 1863. He was elected to the Parliament of Norway in 1836, representing the rural constituency of Lister og Mandals Amt
. He sat through only one term. He was mayor of Flekkefjord
in 1840, and his brother was mayor in 1843.
In 1830 he bought some land at Øysanden near Fedafjorden in Kvinesdal
, establishing a farm. According to Wollert Keilhau, "he did rational
farming, which one then got to see for the first time in those corners of the country". . He wrote articles on agriculture, and was awarded for one of his articles by the Royal Norwegian Society for Development in 1837 and by the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland in 1851. Following the crisis for herring
fishery in Flekkefjord in the 1830s, he added a brewery
and a distillery. However, the distillery was unpopular among the local populace, and went defunct after ten years. He finally pulled out of Flekkefjord's ship industry in 1854, and died in June 1881 in Kvinesdal.
He was born in Flekkefjord
Flekkefjord
is a town and municipality in the county of Vest-Agder, Norway.The town of Flekkefjord was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . The rural municipalities of Bakke, Gyland, Hidra, and Nes were merged with Flekkefjord on 1 January 1965.Flekkefjord is the westernmost town of the...
as a son of ship-owner and consul
Consul (representative)
The political title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries...
Christopher Beer (1770–1839) and Anne Malene Tjørsvaag (1772–1820). He was an older brother of Anders Beer
Anders Beer
Anders Beer 15 January 1801 – 24 January 1863) was a Norwegian ship-owner and tanner.He was born in Flekkefjord as a son of ship-owner and consul Christopher Beer and Anne Malene Tjørsvaag...
, and a grandson of Jens Henrik Beer, Sr.
Jens Henrik Beer, Sr.
Jens Henrik Beer was a Norwegian businessperson.He was born in Flekkefjord as a son of merchant and sawmill owner Nils Henriksen Beer and his wife Anna M. C. Eide...
. He attended school in 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 , ....
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and then worked for a period in Bergen before returning to his hometown in 1821. In 1824 he married Andrea Laurentze Mølbach (1802–1872).
He worked as a ship-owner
Ship-owner
A shipowner is the owner of a merchant vessel . In the commercial sense of the term, a shipowner is someone who equips and exploits a ship, usually for delivering cargo at a certain freight rate, either as a per freight rate or based on hire...
, shipbuilder, sawmill owner and merchant. He was the vice consul
Consul (representative)
The political title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries...
for Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
from 1830 to 1853, the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
from 1932 to 1863 and Holland from 1853 to 1863. He was elected to the Parliament of Norway in 1836, representing the rural constituency of Lister og Mandals Amt
Vest-Agder
In the 16th century, Dutch merchant vessels began to visit ports in southern Norway to purchase salmon and other goods. Soon thereafter the export of timber began, as oak from southern Norway was exceptionally well suited for shipbuilding...
. He sat through only one term. He was mayor of Flekkefjord
Flekkefjord
is a town and municipality in the county of Vest-Agder, Norway.The town of Flekkefjord was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . The rural municipalities of Bakke, Gyland, Hidra, and Nes were merged with Flekkefjord on 1 January 1965.Flekkefjord is the westernmost town of the...
in 1840, and his brother was mayor in 1843.
In 1830 he bought some land at Øysanden near Fedafjorden in Kvinesdal
Kvinesdal
Kvinesdal is a municipality in the county of Vest-Agder, Norway.Kvinesdal was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . Feda was separated from Kvinesdal on 1 January 1900 but again merged with Kvinesdal on 1 January 1963. Fjotland was also merged with Kvinesdal on that date...
, establishing a farm. According to Wollert Keilhau, "he did rational
Rationality
In philosophy, rationality is the exercise of reason. It is the manner in which people derive conclusions when considering things deliberately. It also refers to the conformity of one's beliefs with one's reasons for belief, or with one's actions with one's reasons for action...
farming, which one then got to see for the first time in those corners of the country". . He wrote articles on agriculture, and was awarded for one of his articles by the Royal Norwegian Society for Development in 1837 and by the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland in 1851. Following the crisis for herring
Herring
Herring is an oily fish of the genus Clupea, found in the shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and the North Atlantic oceans, including the Baltic Sea. Three species of Clupea are recognized. The main taxa, the Atlantic herring and the Pacific herring may each be divided into subspecies...
fishery in Flekkefjord in the 1830s, he added a brewery
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
and a distillery. However, the distillery was unpopular among the local populace, and went defunct after ten years. He finally pulled out of Flekkefjord's ship industry in 1854, and died in June 1881 in Kvinesdal.