Carl Frederik Tietgen

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C.F. Tietgen

Carl Frederik Tietgen (March 19, 1829 – October 19, 1901) was a Danish financier and industrialist. The founder of a number of prominent Danish companies still in existence today, Tietgen played an important role in the industrialisation of Denmark. Notably also forming conglomerates, several of Tietgen's companies attained a monopoly-like status, which cemented their durability. Tietgen was also to some extent a philanthropist, notably paying for the completion of The Marble Church.

Tietgen had commercial training and gained experience in private banking, which was still in its infancy in Denmark at the time, from a stay in England in the 1850s. In 1857, Privatbanken was established with Tietgen as manager, financially enabling him to carry out his numerous investments and startups, including Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab, B&W, Det Store Nordiske Telegraf-Selskab, De Danske Sukkerfabrikker, Tuborg, De Danske Spritfabrikker and KTAS.

Statue of Tietgen in Copenhagen

The gravestone of Carl Frederik Tietgen and his wife.

[edit] Personal life

Carl Frederik Tietgen was born in Odense on March 19, 1829, as the first of eight children to parents Johan Friedrich "Fritz" Tietgen, a master cabinetmaker, and Barbara Christine Tietgen (née Wulff).

Tietgen married the then 19-year-old Laura Charlotte Jørgensen on August 8, 1855, in Vejstrup on the island of Funen.

Tietgen suffered partial paralysis following a minor brain hemorrhage in 1896. He was weakened for the last years of his life, causing him to retire from most of his positions. Tietgen died in the evening of October 19, 1901; a memorial ceremony took place at the Marble Church on October 25. He was buried in Lyngby on October 29, 1901.