Anthon Bernhard Elias Nilsen | |
|---|---|
 Anthon B. Nilsen in 1930. | |
| Member of theNorwegian Parliament forFredrikstad | |
| In office 1895–1897 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1855 Svelvik, Norway |
| Died | 1936 |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Occupation | Businessperson Novelist |
Anthon Bernhard Elias Nilsen (30 June 1855 – 6 December 1936) was a Norwegian businessman and politician for theConservative Party. He also wrote novels, under thepseudonymElias Kræmmer.
He was born inSvelvik.[1] A small town, Svelvik nonetheless played an important role, being the nearest port of the larger townDrammen when theDrammensfjord inlet was frozen over during the winter.[2] Nilsen later moved toDrammen,[1] and in 1879 he established a company to export pulp and paper products as well as lumber.[3] The company, named Anth. B. Nilsen & Co from 1912,[1] was taken over by his sons in the 1930s.[3] It still exists today, under the nameAnthon B Nilsen AS. Mainly emphasizing investment, it owns several Norwegian colleges.[4]
Anthon Nilsen also lived inFredrikstad for many years. He came to the city in 1877[5] to work as manager ofFredrikstad Dampsag (Fredrikstad sawmill), but also co-founded the newspaperFredriksstad Blad, which still exists today.[6] Nilsen was elected from Fredrikstad to theNorwegian Parliament in 1895, but served only one term.[7] He was also active in local politics. He left Fredrikstad in 1901,[5] and later lived atLarkollen andJeløya.[6]
Under the pseudonym Elias Kræmmer, Nilsen had a sizeable literary production. His debut came in 1894 withGlade Borgere, a collection of small town depictions.[1] He was not acknowledged for high literary quality,[6] but nonetheless becamepopular for his humour.[1] Later books include the novelsSigurd Seiersborg (1920),Fyrgangen (1923),Bølgerne ruller (1925),Asylet (1928),Evensen (1930),Elias Kræmmers oplevelser (1932),Glade ungdom (1933) andPaa livets høislette (1934).[1] One of his plays, written in 1912, was staged at theNational Theatre.[6] Nilsen also published a collection of poetry in 1919 under his real name.[1]
Abust of Nilsen was raised in Svelvik in 1955.[8] A street in Fredrikstad has been named after Elias Kræmmer.[5]
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