Gabriel Marselis

Gabriel Marselis was a Dutch born Norwegian merchant and landowner who became one of the largest landowners in Denmark and Norway. Following his father’s death in 1643, Gabriel continued to run a family mercantile house with his brother Selius, trading mainly in grain, timber and weaponry all over the Europe. The business flourished and the Marselis company came to be among the largest trading family houses in Northern Europe. The brothers soon became involved in providing loans to the King Christian IV of Denmark-Norway and were reimbursed through large estates and iron and copper mines in Norway. Gabriel was married to Isabella van der Straaten that belonged to one of the most prominent Dutch merchant family.