Richard With
Encyclopedia
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
.
as a son of shipmaster Sivert Regnor With and his wife Anne Bergitte Dahl. Being of Dutch
descent, his father was a pioneer in shipping in Tromsøe. With took the mate's examination in Trondhjem
in 1864, and then spent eight years at sea. In 1873 he settled in Risøyhamn
as a merchant. In September the same year he married Oline Sophie Wennberg in nearby Andenes
. They had the child Nanna With in 1874, but his wife died in November 1878. In 1879 he married her sister Augusta Septimia Wennberg (1847–1938).
fishing, and was the driving force in the creation of Vesteraalens Dampskibsselskab
in 1881. The first two years, he was even the captain of the company's SS Vesteraalen. Two new ships were acquired in the 1880s; SS Lofoten was built and SS Fiskeren was bought. Trade routes were set up between Lofoten
, Vesterålen
and Senja
in the north and Bergen
in the south. In 1891 With took up the idea of establishing a year-round passenger route along the coast of Norway. In 1893 the Parliament of Norway agreed to the government's proposal of funding the route—Hurtigruten
—with . The route Trondheim
–Hammerfest
(in the summer: Trondheim
–Tromsø
) would be sailed weekly, and SS Vesteraalen was the first ship to sail on 2 July 1893. In 1894 With retired as a shipmaster and instead became CEO of Vesteraalens Dampskibsselskab. He remained here until 1909. From 1896 Vesteraalens Dampskibsselskab used SS Lofoten for a passenger route between Hammerfest and Adventfjorden
. The shipmaster was renowned polar explorer Otto Sverdrup
, and the route propelled growth of a modern society in the Svalbard
archipelago. In 1908 With became involved in the work to create the Norwegian America Line
. At its establishment in 1910 he served as deputy chairman of the board.
With had been involved in local politics. He served as a member of the Parliament of Norway for the constituency Vesteraalen from 1910 to 1912. He then remained in Kristiania
and lived here until his death in February 1930. In 1964, he was made Knight 1st Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. With awas a leader of the Nordlendingenes Forening and in 1912, he was awarded the Petter Dass Metal (Petter Dass-medaljen). His name has been used for two Hurtigruten ships: SS Richard With (1909) and current MS Richard With (1993). In Tromsø there is a square named Richard Withs plass, while roads are named after him (Richard Withs gate or Richard Withs vei) in Andenes, Trondheim
, Bodø
, Sandnessjøen
and Vardø
.
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...
and Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten or Hurtigruta is a Norwegian passenger and freight line with daily sailings along Norway's western and northern coast. Sometimes referred to in English as Norwegian Coastal Express, Hurtigruten ships sail almost the entire length of the country, completing the roundtrip journey in 11...
.
Background
Richard Bernhard With was born in TromsøTromsø
Tromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø.Tromsø city is the ninth largest urban area in Norway by population, and the seventh largest city in Norway by population...
as a son of shipmaster Sivert Regnor With and his wife Anne Bergitte Dahl. Being of Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
descent, his father was a pioneer in shipping in Tromsøe. With took the mate's examination in 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...
in 1864, and then spent eight years at sea. In 1873 he settled in Risøyhamn
Risøyhamn
Risøyhamn is a village on the island of Andøya in the municipality of Andøy, Norway.Shipping company Hurtigruten has a service from and to Risøyhamn twice a day.The island of Andøya is connected to the island of Hinnøya by bridge in Risøyhamn....
as a merchant. In September the same year he married Oline Sophie Wennberg in nearby Andenes
Andenes
is a town and former municipality in Vesterålen district in Nordland county, Norway.Andenes was separated from Dverberg January 1, 1924. It was merged with Dverberg and Bjørnskinn to create the new municipality of Andøy January 1, 1964....
. They had the child Nanna With in 1874, but his wife died in November 1878. In 1879 he married her sister Augusta Septimia Wennberg (1847–1938).
Career
Richard With realized a growing transportation need in the region, particularly due to the widespread herringHerring
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...
fishing, and was the driving force in the creation of 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...
in 1881. The first two years, he was even the captain of the company's SS Vesteraalen. Two new ships were acquired in the 1880s; SS Lofoten was built and SS Fiskeren was bought. Trade routes were set up between Lofoten
Lofoten
Lofoten is an archipelago and a traditional district in the county of Nordland, Norway. Though lying within the Arctic Circle, the archipelago experiences one of the world's largest elevated temperature anomalies relative to its high latitude.-Etymology:...
, Vesterålen
Vesterålen
Vesterålen is a district and archipelago in Nordland, Norway, just north of Lofoten.-The name:The Norse forms of the name were Vestráll and Vestrálar . The first element is vestr n west, the last element is áll m ' sound, strait'...
and Senja
Senja
Senja is the second largest island in Norway . It is located along the Troms county coastline with Finnsnes as the closest town. Senja is connected to the mainland by the Gisund Bridge. The municipalities located on Senja are Lenvik , Berg, Torsken, and Tranøy...
in the north and 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 , ....
in the south. In 1891 With took up the idea of establishing a year-round passenger route along the coast of Norway. In 1893 the Parliament of Norway agreed to the government's proposal of funding the route—Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten or Hurtigruta is a Norwegian passenger and freight line with daily sailings along Norway's western and northern coast. Sometimes referred to in English as Norwegian Coastal Express, Hurtigruten ships sail almost the entire length of the country, completing the roundtrip journey in 11...
—with . The route Trondheim
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...
–Hammerfest
Hammerfest
is a city and municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The municipality encompasses parts of three islands: Kvaløya, Sørøya, and Seiland. Hammerfest was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
(in the summer: Trondheim
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...
–Tromsø
Tromsø
Tromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø.Tromsø city is the ninth largest urban area in Norway by population, and the seventh largest city in Norway by population...
) would be sailed weekly, and SS Vesteraalen was the first ship to sail on 2 July 1893. In 1894 With retired as a shipmaster and instead became CEO of Vesteraalens Dampskibsselskab. He remained here until 1909. From 1896 Vesteraalens Dampskibsselskab used SS Lofoten for a passenger route between Hammerfest and Adventfjorden
Adventfjorden
Adventfjorden is a 7 km long and 4 km wide bay on the southern side of Isfjorden, on the west coast of Spitsbergen. The name is a corruption of Adventure Bay, which was probably named after the Hull whaleship Adventure, which resorted to Isfjorden in 1656. The fjord was originally known as Klass...
. The shipmaster was renowned polar explorer Otto Sverdrup
Otto Sverdrup
Otto Neumann Knoph Sverdrup was a Norwegian sailor and Arctic explorer.-Early and personal life:...
, and the route propelled growth of a modern society in the Svalbard
Svalbard
Svalbard is an archipelago in the Arctic, constituting the northernmost part of Norway. It is located north of mainland Europe, midway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. The group of islands range from 74° to 81° north latitude , and from 10° to 35° east longitude. Spitsbergen is the...
archipelago. In 1908 With became involved in the work to create the Norwegian America Line
Norwegian America Line
Norwegian America Line , was a cruise ship line, originally an operator of passenger and cargo ships. Founded in 1910, the company ran a regular transatlantic service between Norway and the United States, and later to East Africa as well....
. At its establishment in 1910 he served as deputy chairman of the board.
With had been involved in local politics. He served as a member of the Parliament of Norway for the constituency Vesteraalen from 1910 to 1912. He then remained 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...
and lived here until his death in February 1930. In 1964, he was made Knight 1st Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. With awas a leader of the Nordlendingenes Forening and in 1912, he was awarded the Petter Dass Metal (Petter Dass-medaljen). His name has been used for two Hurtigruten ships: SS Richard With (1909) and current MS Richard With (1993). In Tromsø there is a square named Richard Withs plass, while roads are named after him (Richard Withs gate or Richard Withs vei) in Andenes, Trondheim
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...
, Bodø
Bodø
is a city and a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Salten region.The city of Bodø was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . Bodin was merged with Bodø on 1 January 1968. Skjerstad was merged with Bodø on 1 January 2005...
, Sandnessjøen
Sandnessjøen
Sandnessjøen is the centre of the municipality of Alstahaug in the county of Nordland, Norway, with a population of over 9,000. It was made a township in 1788....
and Vardø
Vardø
is a town and a municipality in Finnmark county in the extreme northeast part of Norway.Vardø was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . The law required that all cities should be separated from their rural districts, but because of a low population and very few voters, this was...
.