Lorentz Mortensen Angell

Lorentz Mortensen Angell was a wealthy merchant and landowner from Norway whose family became the leading philanthropist in the country.

Pursuing a career, Angell left his native Angeln in Schleswig around 1650 and settled in Trondheim. Three years later he married Margrethe Hansdatter Puls what opened his way to the upper circle of merchants in the city, and after her death remarried two more times. Angell managed to make a fortune as a ship-owner and by fishing and whaling along the coast of Norway. Like many other merchants, he had diverse trade interests. Among main export items were lumber, copper, and products of whale fishery and he imported gunpowder for the mining industry, grain, flour, salt, tobacco and textile goods and other commodities intended for sale in the city.

Besides mercantile interests, Lorentz also co-owned the famous Røros Copper Works and was proprietor of number of farms in Nordland including Tjøtta estate (Tjøttagodset) on the island Tjøtta in Alstahaug. At the time, Angell was regarded as one of the richest 15 men in Norway.