Jens Gasmann

Jens Severin Gasmann (1776-1850) was a Norwegian businessperson and politician. [http://www.porsgrunn.folkebibl.no/bok/fck/ep/storgata-131.html#Gasmann Storgata 131] , by Finn C. Knudsen. Hosted by Porsgrunn public library.]

Personal life

He was born in 1776 in Gjerpen as the son of attorney Niels Egidius Gasmann (1747-1811) and his wife Kirstine Schweder (1757-1785) of the wealthy Zachariassen Wesseltoft family.b]

Jens Gasmann married Bodil Zachariassen Wesseltoft (1779-1848) in 1800. The couple had two daughters and two sons. Their youngest son Niels Egidius Møller became a merchant in Christiania, and married Simonine Møller, sister of parliament member Hans Eleonardus Møller and aunt of Hans Møller.c]

Career

Jens Gasmann began his career at sea at a young age, and became a shipmaster in 1798, sailing a period for ship-owner Jørgen Aall.d] He took part in the Gunboat War, between Denmark-Norway and Great Britain, as secretary of admiral Fisker. [ [http://www.porsgrunn.folkebibl.no/bok/fck/gp/storgata-186.html#JGasmann Storgaden no. 186] , by Finn C. Knudsen. Hosted by Porsgrunn public library.] In 1812 Jens Gasmann acquired burghership and settled on the mainland. He bought various real estate, but had to face a fire in 1824. However, he coped through this, raised a new building and later set up a distillery there. From 1818 he was also vice consul for Great Britain,e] the country he had helped waging war against only eight years earlier. He was later promoted to consul.

As a politician he served as a deputy representative in the Norwegian Parliament in 1824, representing the constituency of "Skien og Porsgrund". [ [http://samfunnsveven.no/TT/U21.cfm?Utside=&Uttaksnummer=21&person=10900 Jens Severin Gasmann born 1776] - Norwegian Social Science Data Services (NSD)] In 1837, when local governance was introduced in Norway, Gasmann became the first deputy mayor of Porsgrund municipality. Jørgen Flood was mayor, following a "mutual agreement" between the council members. [http://www.porsgrunn.folkebibl.no/bok/porsgrunn-1957/b2/ph-07a.html Kommunalt styre. Administrasjon og finanser] , in volume two of "Porsgrunns historie", by Joh. N. Tønnessen. Hosted by Porsgrunn public library.] Gasmann served as deputy mayor again in 1838, before becoming mayor in 1839 and 1840 with Flood as deputy mayor. [http://www.porsgrunn.folkebibl.no/bok/lund/Lund_19.html Ordførere og viceordførere] , by Carl Lund. Hosted by Porsgrunn public library.] Gasmann left local politics on 31 December 1840.b]

From the 1820s Gasmann worked as a trade inspector and later harbor master.f]

After his death, an auction were held on his property. It was bought by later mayor Simon Karenius Høegh. [http://www.porsgrunn.folkebibl.no/bok/bh/BB-2.html Anders Jensen og slekten Høegh i Brevik] , by Nicolay W. Coch. Hosted by Porsgrunn public library.]

References