Hans Niels Andersen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hans Niels Andersen
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| Born | 10 September 1852 Nakskov, Denmark
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| Died | 30 December 1937 (aged 85) |
| Nationality | Danish |
| Occupation | Shipping magnate, businessman |
| Known for | Founder of the East Asiatic Company |
| Awards | Knight of the Elephant |
Hans Niels Andersen (born September 10, 1852 – died December 30, 1937) was a famous Danish businessman. He was a very successful shipping expert and founded a huge company called the East Asiatic Company. He also worked as a diplomat for his country.
Contents
Early Life and Sea Adventures
Hans Niels Andersen was born in Nakskov, Denmark, into a family that worked hard. He learned how to build ships. In 1872, he started working as a ship's carpenter.
In 1873, he traveled to Bangkok for the first time. He quickly became a first mate and then a captain of a ship called Thoon Kramom. This ship was owned by Chulalongkorn, who was the king of Siam (now Thailand). After his time at sea, he started working in the business of moving goods by ship across East Asia and Europe.
Building a Business Empire
Starting Andersen & Co.
In 1884, Hans Niels Andersen started his own company in Bangkok. He named it Andersen & Co. This company did many things, like buying and selling goods (import/export), shipping, and even cutting down trees and making wood at sawmills.
Founding the East Asiatic Company
Later, Andersen went back to Copenhagen, Denmark. There, he opened another office for his company. In 1897, he teamed up with Isak Glückstadt, who was in charge of a bank. Together, they started the East Asiatic Company. They began with a lot of money, about 3.5 million Danish kroner.
The main goal of the company was to help Denmark trade with countries in the Far East. But the company grew very fast! It started doing many other things, like building ships, making ship engines, and even offering insurance. Soon, it became the biggest company in all of Denmark.
Innovations in Shipping
In 1912, Andersen asked a shipbuilding company in Copenhagen to build a special ship. This ship was called the MS Selandia. It was very important because it was the world's first large ship that ran on a motor instead of steam. This was a big step forward for shipping!
The East Asiatic Company kept growing. It opened offices all over the world. Eventually, it had 250 businesses in more than 50 countries.
Hans Niels Andersen led the company for 40 years. When he passed away in 1937, the company's total earnings were more than 233 million kroner.
Diplomatic Efforts
Working for Peace
During World War I, Denmark stayed neutral, meaning it did not pick a side. Hans Niels Andersen was asked by the Danish Foreign Minister to go on special trips to different countries. His goal was to try and find a way to end the war.
Andersen was a close friend of the Danish royal family. He was very good at talking with kings and queens. He hoped to speak with King George V of Britain and Czar Nikolai II of Russia. These kings, along with King Christian X of Denmark, were all cousins. Andersen tried to start peace talks, but he was not successful in ending the war. However, he did a good job of protecting Denmark's interests during this time.
Honors and Recognition
Hans Niels Andersen also served as Consul General for Siam in Denmark from 1898 to 1932. A consul general is like a special representative for a country in another country. In 1900, he was given the title of Councilor of State. In 1919, he received the highest honor in Denmark, becoming a Knight of the Elephant.
