Jonas Alströmer facts for kids
Jonas Alströmer (born January 7, 1685 – died June 2, 1761) was a very important person in Sweden. He helped start new ways of farming (called agriculture) and building factories (called industry). He made many changes that helped Sweden grow stronger.
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Early Life and New Beginnings
Jonas was born in a town called Alingsås in Sweden. His birth name was Jonas Toresson, but he later changed it to Alström.
When he was about 22 years old, in 1707, he moved to London, England. There, he worked for a merchant from Stockholm named Alberg. After a few years, Alberg's business didn't do well. But Jonas was smart and became a shipbroker on his own. This meant he helped people buy and sell ships or arrange for ships to carry goods. He was very successful at it!
Bringing New Ideas to Sweden
Even though he was doing well in London, Jonas wanted to help his home country, Sweden. He dreamed of starting new industries there.
- Wool Factory: In 1724, he opened a woolen factory in his hometown of Alingsås. At first, it was a bit tough, but soon it started making money and became very successful.
- Other Industries: He didn't stop there! He also helped set up a sugar refinery in Gothenburg. He encouraged better ways to grow potatoes, which became a very important food. He also supported improvements in making leather (called tanning), making knives and forks (called cutlery), and building ships (called shipbuilding).
The Potato Story
Jonas Alströmer played a big part in making potatoes popular in Sweden. However, some people think he was the very first person to bring potatoes to Sweden, but that's not quite true! Potatoes were actually grown in the Uppsala Botanical Garden as early as 1658, which was before Jonas was even born. Still, Jonas himself believed he had brought them to Sweden, and his name is still strongly connected to potatoes today.
Honors and Family
Jonas Alströmer was so important that he was one of the six people who started the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1739. This is a very respected group that helps with science and research in Sweden.
In 1748, the King honored him by making him a knight of the Order of the Polar Star. Soon after, he was given a special noble title, and his name was officially changed to Alströmer.
Jonas Alströmer had four sons. One of his sons, Clas Alströmer, became a famous naturalist, someone who studies nature.
Memorials
People remembered Jonas Alströmer for all his hard work and contributions. Here are some ways he has been honored:
- In 1790, a bust (a sculpture of his head and shoulders) made of marble was placed in the Stockholm Stock Exchange Building.
- In 1905, a statue of him was put up in Gothenburg.
- Also in 1905, another bust was placed in his hometown of Alingsås.
- In 1961, a postage stamp was made to mark 200 years since he passed away.
