Personal life

Nicolai Benjamin Aall was born in 1739 as the first son of Niels Jacobsen Aall (1702–1784) and Benedicte Henrikke Bergh (1714–1748) from Moss

Moss, Norway

is a coastal city and a municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Moss. The city of Moss was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...

. Niels Jacobsen Aall was born in London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

, but moved to Porsgrund

Porsgrunn

is a town and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Porsgrunn....

 in 1712. Benedicte Henrikke was the second of three wives. Nicolai Benjamin's younger half-brother Jacob Aall, Sr. became a noted wholesaler, whereas his youngest half-sister Benedicta married Severin von Løvenskiold. Thus later statesman Severin Løvenskiold

Severin Løvenskiold

Severin Løvenskiold, the younger , was a Norwegian nobleman and a politician.-Early life:...

 was his nephew.

He married Amborg Jørgensdatter Wesseltoft (1741–1815) from Skien

Skien

' is a city and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Skien. Skien is also the administrative centre of Telemark county....

, inheritor of the wealthy merchant Jørgen Simonsen Wesseltoft, in 1769. They had four sons; Niels, Jacob, Jørgen

Jørgen Aall

Jørgen Aall was a Norwegian ship-owner and politician.-Personal life:Jørgen Aall was born in 1771 as the second son of Nicolai Benjamin Aall and Amborg Jørgensdatter , née Wesseltoft. In total he had three brothers and three sisters...

 and Nicolai Benjamin, Jr., and three daughters Benedicte Henricka, Inger and Constance. Benedicte Henricka married Ulrich Fredrich von Cappelen

Ulrich Fredrich von Cappelen

Ulrich Fredrich von Cappelen was a Norwegian ship-owner and businessman.-Personal life:Ulrich Fredrich von Cappelen was born in 1770 to landowner and merchant Diedrich von Cappelen and his first wife Petronelle Pedersdatter Juel . He had two older brothers, one sister and one younger half-brother...

 of the influential Cappelen family, and Inger married Hans Eleonardus Møller, Sr

Hans Eleonardus Møller, Sr.

Hans Eleonardus Møller, Sr. was a Norwegian businessperson.-Personal life:Hans Eleonardus Møller was born in 1780 to dr.med. Hans Møller and his wife Eleonore Hedevig, née Rasch. His father had immigrated to Norway from their native Denmark. He was born at Onsø, but grew up at Åkre at Porsgrund...

. Through these marriages Nicolai Benjamin Aall was the grandfather of later parliament member Hans Eleonardus Møller

Hans Eleonardus Møller

Hans Eleonardus Møller was a Norwegian politician and businessperson.-Personal life:Hans Eleonardus Møller was born in 1804 to Hans Eleonardus Møller, Sr. and Inger , née Aall. He had two younger sisters Simonine and Marianne...

, political figures Ulrik Frederik Cappelen

Ulrik Frederik Cappelen

Ulrik Frederik Cappelen was a Norwegian jurist and politician.-Personal life:Ulrik Frederik Cappelen was born in 1795 as the second child of ship-owner Ulrich Fredrich von Cappelen and his wife Benedicte Henrikke, née Aall . His maternal grandfather was Nicolai Benjamin Aall...

 and Nicolai Benjamin Cappelen

Nicolai Benjamin Cappelen

-Personal life:Nicolai Benjamin Cappelen was born in 1795 as the first child of ship-owner Ulrich Fredrich von Cappelen and his wife Benedicte Henrikke, née Aall . His namesake and maternal grandfather was Nicolai Benjamin Aall...

 and publishing house founder Jørgen Wright Cappelen

Jørgen Wright Cappelen

-Personal life:Jørgen Wright Cappelen was born in Porsgrund in 1805 as the ninth and last child of ship-owner Ulrich Fredrich von Cappelen and his wife Benedicte Henrikke, née Aall . His maternal grandfather was Nicolai Benjamin Aall, and as such his group of uncles included Constitutional...

.

Career

Nicolai Benjamin Aall took examination as a theologian in 1759, but later turned to work in his father's business. He acquired burghership as a merchant in 1772. He bought Ulefos iron works at Ulefoss

Ulefoss

Ulefoss is the administrative centre of Nome municipality, Norway. Its population is 2,699.-References:...

 from the Anker family in 1782, having been a co-owner (one eighth part) since 1775. He also bought various real estate. In 1796 he and Didrich von Cappelen, brother of his son-in-law Ulrich Fredrich von Cappelen, established the Western Porsgrund ropewalk

Ropewalk

A ropewalk is a long straight narrow lane, or a covered pathway, where long strands of material were laid before being twisted into rope.Ropewalks historically were harsh sweatshops, and frequently caught on fire, as hemp dust forms an explosive mixture. Rope was essential in sailing ships and the...

. In the same year he was registered as the owner of eleven ships, having coped through the American Revolutionary War

American Revolutionary War

The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...

which had a negative impact on business. He was described as hard-working and self-sacrificing, and handled his business with "superior proficiency", according to one historian.