Elias C. Kiær

Who was Elias C. Kiær?

Elias Cathrinus Kiær was a Norwegian businessperson.

He was born in Drammen as the son of wholesaler Hans Theodor Kiær. He was the grandson of Hans Andersen Kiær and nephew of Anders F. Kiær.

In 1895 he took over the family company And. H. Kiær & Co from his uncle Anders—co-owners were his uncle Hans Theodor, first cousin Frits and Anders' son-in-law Peter Collett Solberg. The company was greatly expanded in the years before 1920, buying forest areas and founding paper mills and sawmills. However, following the economic hardships of the Interwar Period, the company declined. His son Hans Theodor had taken over as CEO in 1916, and his nephew Thorry Kiær also played an important role in the 1920s.

Elias C. Kiær was also an uncle of paleontologist Johan Aschehoug Kiær and organizational worker Dakky Kiær.