Preben von Ahnen

Preben von Ahnen was a German born landowner and industrialist in Norway.

Born on the island of Rügen in a family of a Pomeranian nobleman Staffen von Ahnen, he immigrated to Norway in 1629. There he served as lensmann of Nordland from 1646 and as county manager from 1660. Through wise marriage policy Preben emerged as one of the largest landowners in Norway. From the first marriage he gained Dønnagodset på Helgeland, an extensive estate located along the coast of Nordland and from his second marriage he came into possession of Kaupanger Hovedgård in Sogn og Fjordane. In 1657 Preben founded the iron foundry Ulefos Jernværk in partership with Ove Gjedde which produced pig iron until 1877.