Carl Jacobsen
Carl Jacobsen | |
|---|---|
| Born | Carl Christian Hillman Jacobsen Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Died | 11 January 1914 (aged 71) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, art patron, benefactor |
| Years active | 1882–1914 |
| Known for | Expansion of Carlsberg brewery; founder of Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek; patron of the arts |
Carl Christian Hillman Jacobsen (2 March 1842 – 11 January 1914) was a prominent Danish entrepreneur, art patron, and benefactor. As an innovative leader, he expanded Carlsberg from a modest Copenhagen brewery into a global enterprise.
Background
Born in Copenhagen, Carl Jacobsen was the son of J. C. Jacobsen (1811–1887), the original founder of Carlsberg. After completing his education at Borgerdyd School in Christianshavn in 1861, he dedicated four years to studying prominent breweries across Europe.
Career
After disagreements with his father, Carl launched his own brewing operation in 1882, initially called Valby Brewery. With consent from his father, it was soon renamed Ny Carlsberg (New Carlsberg), while his father’s establishment became known as Gammel Carlsberg (Old Carlsberg). When J.C. Jacobsen passed away, control was transferred to the Carlsberg Foundation, established in 1876, which postponed Carl’s direct management. The two breweries unified in 1906 with Carl Jacobsen assuming the role of CEO, under whose guidance Carlsberg experienced substantial growth.
Artistic interest and philanthropy
In contrast to his politically engaged father, Carl Jacobsen was deeply devoted to culture and the arts. His fascination with Greek and classical antiquities inspired him to establish the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in 1897. This museum, built around his collection of ancient art, remains one of Denmark’s foremost cultural institutions.
His artistic passion influenced the brewery itself, where he commissioned leading Danish architects such as Vilhelm Dahlerup to create architecturally refined structures, including the notable Winding Chimney. Additionally, he played a significant role in preserving Copenhagen’s architectural heritage by financing restorations of churches and public buildings and commissioning the famous 1913 sculpture The Little Mermaid.
Personal life
During a business visit to Edinburgh, Jacobsen met Ottilia Marie Stegmann; they wed on 24 September 1874 in Copenhagen. Ottilia was the daughter of Lorents Konrad Carl Stegmann, a grain merchant, and was an influential figure within Denmark’s contemporary art circles. Together, they had nine children born between 1875 and 1890.
Jacobsen received numerous distinctions throughout his life: he became an extraordinary member of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 1897, an honorary member of the Société des artistes français in 1909, an associé of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1913, and was honored with several ranks within the Order of the Dannebrog, culminating with the Grand Cross in 1912. He passed away on 11 January 1914 and was laid to rest in the family mausoleum at Jesus Church, Copenhagen.
See also
Other sources
- Glamann, Kristof (1996) Beer and Marble. Carl Jacobsen of New Carlsberg (Copenhagen: Gyldendal)
- Glamann, Kristof (1991) Jacobsen of Carlsberg. Brewer and Philanthropist (Copenhagen: Gyldendal)
- Jørgensen, Ida Lunde (2018) Creating cultural heritage: three vignettes on Carl Jacobsen, his museum and foundation (Management and Organizational History, vol 13, 3) https://doi.org/10.1080/17449359.2018.1547645
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- Carl Jacobsen
- Carlsberg Group people
- Danish brewers
- Danish art collectors
- 1842 births
- 1914 deaths
- 19th-century Danish businesspeople
- 20th-century Danish businesspeople
- Businesspeople from Copenhagen
- Knights of the Order of the Dannebrog