Haaken L. Mathiesen

Who was Haaken L. Mathiesen?

Haaken Larpent Mathiesen was a Norwegian landowner and businessperson in the forestry sector.

He was born in Christiania as the son of landowner Haaken C. Mathiesen and his wife Anna Sophie Josephine Larpent. He was a brother of politician Christian Pierre Mathiesen, nephew of art collector Sophus Larpent, and a great-grandson of Haagen Mathiesen.

His family owned the manor Linderud as well as large forests in Eidsvoll and Hurdal. Mathiesen intended to become a military officer, but as his older brother died in 1875, it fell upon him to inherit the family company. After a period of education, his first foray into business was the foundation of the company Nilsen, Mathiesen & Co. in Fredrikstad in 1883, together with Anthon B. Nilsen. The company was dissolved in 1893, though a small remnant existed, managed by Haaken Mathiesen's younger half-brother Arthur. In the same year, Haaken Mathiesen joined forces with his father and bought Eidsvold Værk, creating the company Mathiesen Eidsvold Værk which still exists today. He was the sole owner from 1895, and under his leadership the company ventured into the pulp and paper industry. He was also among the founders of Orkla Gruber in 1904, and also invested in Sydvaranger and Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani.