wholesaler, merchant, shipowner, estate owner and politician
Diderik von Cappelen (21 June 1761 – 3 April 1828) was a Norwegian wholesaler, merchant, shipowner, estate owner and politician in 1814. He is often referred to as Diderik von Cappelen but he spelt his name Didrich von Cappelen and is also referred to as Didrik von Cappelen.
Mæla Gård in Gjerpen
Personal life and family
Cappelen was born at Mæla Manor in Gjerpen (Mæla gård i Gjerpen) in the municipality of Skien, in Telemark, Norway. He was one of the sons of the wholesaler, timber merchant and ship owner Diderich von Cappelen (1734–1794) and his first wife Petronelle Pedersdatter Juel (1737–1785). His father was one of the richest ship owners in Norway. Diderik von Cappelen was the elder brother of Peder von Cappelen, Ulrich Fredrich von Cappelen and Cathrine von Cappelen who was married to Carsten Tank.[1] Cappelen was married twice, first to Maria Plesner from 1787, and from 1800 to Marie Severine Blom.
Cappelen was educated in his father's business, after being in 1779–80 at Kingswood School outside Bristol where he also met John Wesley. Diderik von Cappelen was a successful businessman continuing and expanding the family business. He was a religious man, he helped several poor people, paid for public schools and roads in Skien and paid a considerable amount of money to the establishing of the first Norwegian university.
