Jacob Aall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jacob Aall
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Lithograph of Aall, published 1856-60
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| Norwegian Constitutional Assembly | |
| In office 1814–1814 |
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| Member of Parliament | |
| In office 1815–1817 |
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| Member of Parliament | |
| In office 1821–1823 |
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| Member of Parliament | |
| In office 1827–1829 |
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| Member of Parliament | |
| In office 1830–1832 |
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| Member of Parliament | |
| In office 1839–1841 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 July 1773 Porsgrunn, Denmark-Norway |
| Died | 4 August 1844 (aged 71) |
| Nationality | Norwegian |
| Spouses | Louise Andrea Stephansen (1779-1825) (m.1799) |
| Occupation | statesman, historian, landowner and government economist |
Jacob Aall (born July 27, 1773 – died August 4, 1844) was an important Norwegian figure. He was a politician, a historian, and a successful businessman. He owned a lot of land and worked as a government economist.
Jacob Aall was born in Porsgrunn, Norway. His father, Nicolai Benjamin Aall, was a merchant and owned a large estate called Ulefos Manor. Jacob also had an uncle named Jacob Aall, who was also a merchant.
Contents
Jacob Aall's Life and Work
Early Education and Studies
In 1791, Jacob Aall started school in Copenhagen, Denmark. He studied hard and earned a degree in theology in 1795. After finishing his studies, he went back to Norway.
He tried working as a cleric, which is like a religious leader. However, he felt that this job wasn't the best use of his talents. So, he decided to study other subjects.
Exploring Natural Science
In 1796, Jacob Aall returned to Copenhagen. This time, he began studying natural science, which is about how the natural world works. The next year, in 1797, he traveled to Germany. He visited famous science schools in cities like Leipzig, Kiel, and Göttingen.
While in Germany, he met a well-known geologist named Abraham Gottlob Werner. Geologists study the Earth's rocks and how they were formed.
Managing the Ironworks
In 1799, Jacob Aall came back to Norway. His father had passed away, and Jacob used his inheritance to buy a huge business. It was called the Nes Iron-works, located near Arendal.
He worked hard to make the ironworks run more efficiently. The business faced challenges when the English Wars started in 1801. But Jacob Aall managed to keep the ironworks going strong.
A Key Role in Norwegian Politics
Jacob Aall played a very important part in Norwegian history in 1814. He helped create the free Constitution of Norway. This document set up how Norway would be governed.
For fourteen years, from 1816 to 1830, he was a leading member of the Storting. The Storting is Norway's national assembly, similar to a parliament.
Contributions as a Writer
Jacob Aall was also a talented writer. He translated and published Heimskringla, a famous collection of sagas by Snorri Sturluson. These sagas tell stories about the kings of Norway.
He also wrote his own book called Reminiscences (published in 1844-1845). This book is full of important information about the history of the Scandinavian peninsula during his time.
In his later years, Jacob Aall spent less time in public life. He let his son take over most of the work at the ironworks.
Personal Life
In 1799, Jacob Aall married Louise Andrea Stephansen. They had at least one son together. Louise passed away in 1825.
Jacob Aall's Legacy
Jacob Aall is remembered in Norway in several ways. A street in Oslo is named after him: Jacob Aall Street.
He was also one of 41 Norwegian citizens who helped make the University of Oslo possible. They did this by donating money to help create the university, which was first called Royal Frederick University.
Jacob Aall received several honors for his work. These included the Medal for Bogerdåd, the Order of Vasa, and the Order of the Polar Star.
He was also a member of important scientific groups. These included the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and the Royal Danish Science Ernes Society.
