- Jørgen Wright Cappelen
Jørgen Wright Cappelen (1805–1878) was a Norwegian publisher.
Personal life
Jørgen Wright Cappelen was born in Porsgrund in 1805 as the ninth and last child of ship-owner
Ulrich Fredrich von Cappelen (1770–1820) and his wife Benedicte Henrikke, née Aall (1772–1812). [http://www.porsgrunn.folkebibl.no/bok/fck/ep/frednesalleen-1.html Frednesalléen 1] , by Finn C. Knudsen. Hosted by Porsgrunn public library.] His maternal grandfather wasNicolai Benjamin Aall , and as such his group of uncles included Constitutional founding fathers Niels, Jacob andJørgen Aall . When Jørgen reached 15 years of age, he had lost both parents and the family business was bankrupt, however, his uncles Niels Aall andDidrich von Cappelen took over as trustees. [http://www.porsgrunn.folkebibl.no/bok/historie/gatelangs/cappelensvei.html Cappelensvei] , by Harald Bache Bystrøm. Hosted by Porsgrunn public library.]His oldest brothers Nicolai Benjamin and Ulrik Frederik became jurists and members of the national parliament. The third brother, Wittus Juel, became a merchant in
Drammen . The oldest sisters Didricha and Louise were married consecutively to bishop and politicianJens Lauritz Arup . The fourth sister Benedicte married their cousin Hans Blom Cappelen; from this marriage, Jørgen got a nephew Didrik who became a member of parliament, and a niece Marie who marriedFritz Trampe Flood of the notable Flood ship-owner family.b]Jørgen married actress Fredrikke Helene Schwirtz. She was a Danish citizen. [http://www.porsgrunn.folkebibl.no/bok/ph/ph62-b.html Opptegnelser fra det gamle Porsgrunn] , by Inga Friis. Hosted by Porsgrunn public library.]
Career
Jørgen Wright Cappelen started theological studies in
Basel , but abandoned these. He instead moved toKristiania and foundedJ.W. Cappelens Forlag , a publishing house and bookshop,c] in 1829. The publications were largely centered around religious topics. In the second half of the nineteenth century, they rather concentrated on school books. [http://www.cappelendamm.no/vedlegg/cappelens_historie.pdf History of J.W. Cappelens Forlag] ]Cappelen was the first chairman of the
Norwegian Booksellers Association , serving in that capacity from 1851 to 1870.b]After his death the business was taken over by his son Jørgen Wright Cappelen, Jr.b] The publishing house and bookshop was split into two stock companies in 1957. The bookshop company was liquidated in 1973,c] but the publishing house still exists.
References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.