Nicolai Benjamin Aall

Nicolai Benjamin Aall (1739–1798) was a Norwegian ship-owner and businessman.

Nicolai Benjamin Aall was born in 1739 as the first son of Niels Jacobsen Aall (1702–1784) and Benedicte Henrikke Bergh (1714–1748) from Moss. Niels Jacobsen Aall was born in London, but moved to Porsgrund in 1712. Benedicte Henrikke was the second of three wives. Nicolai Benjamin's younger half-brother Jacob Aall, Sr. became a noted wholesaler, whereas his youngest half-sister Benedicta married Severin von Løvenskiold. Thus later statesman Severin Løvenskiold was his nephew.

He married Amborg Jørgensdatter Wesseltoft (1741–1815) from Skien, inheritor of the wealthy merchant Jørgen Simonsen Wesseltoft, in 1769. They had four sons; Niels, Jacob, Jørgen and Nicolai Benjamin, Jr., and three daughters Benedicte Henricka, Inger and Constance. Benedicte Henricka married Ulrich Fredrich von Cappelen of the influential Cappelen family, and Inger married Hans Eleonardus Møller, Sr. Through these marriages Nicolai Benjamin Aall was the grandfather of later parliament member Hans Eleonardus Møller, political figures Ulrik Frederik Cappelen and Nicolai Benjamin Cappelen and publishing house founder Jørgen Wright Cappelen.

Nicolai Benjamin Aall took examination as a theologian in 1759, but later turned to work in his father's business. He acquired burghership as a merchant in 1772. He bought Ulefos iron works at Ulefoss from the Anker family in 1782, having been a co-owner (one eighth part) since 1775. He also bought various real estate. In 1796 he and Didrich von Cappelen, brother of his son-in-law Ulrich Fredrich von Cappelen, established the Western Porsgrund ropewalk. In the same year he was registered as the owner of eleven ships, having coped through the American Revolutionary War which had a negative impact on business. He was described as hard-working and self-sacrificing, and handled his business with "superior proficiency", according to one historian.

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