- Source: Marentius Thams
Ole Christian Marentius Thullin Thams (27 February 1836 – 26 July 1907) was a Norwegian merchant and industrialist.
Biography
Marentius Thams was born at Fredrikstad in Østfold, Norway. He was the son of timber trader Wilhelm August Thams (1812–1884) and Ida Olava Mandskow (1812-1889). Thams grew up in Fredrikstad and gained a commercial education, partly abroad.
He first was associated with his father's lumber business in Fredrikstad. In 1859, his father's business interests were relocated to the Orkdalen region of Sør-Trøndelag. In 1867, his father founded Strandheim Brug, a sawmill and timber trade company. The primary of facilities were destroyed by fire in 1872 after which Marentius Thams took over management of the re-built operation.
In time, Marentius further developed his father's businesses to become the country's largest of its kind. He made his firm, M. Thams & Co., known around the world through participation in world exhibitions. He also established the first company for export of fresh, iced salmon from Norway during the salmon season, May-July.
Personal life
He was married to Emilie Christine Ullitz (1838-1916) and was the father of Christian Thams (1867–1948).
