Abraham Hülphers the Elder

Abraham Danielsson Hülphers (1704–1770), also known as Abraham Hülphers the Elder (Swedish: Abraham Hülphers den äldre), was a Swedish early industrialist, and politician.

Abraham Hülphers
Abraham Danielsson Hülphers (1704–1770).
Member of the Swedish Parliament
for Västerås
In office
4 December 1740 – 3 October 1765
Personal details
Born(1704-03-31)31 March 1704
Hedemora, Dalarna
Died26 November 1770(1770-11-26) (aged 66)
Västerås, Västmanland
Resting placeVästerås Cathedral
NationalitySwedish
Political partyCaps
SpouseChristina (née Westdahl)
ChildrenInter alia Abraham Hülphers the Younger
OccupationIndustrialist

Managing several iron works and forges around Bergslagen, he was an important contributor to the development of the early industrial craft production in Sweden.[1] While maintaining extensive commercial enterprises around his home town Västerås, he was also active in the Swedish East India Company, bringing new products to the Swedish market, including tobacco, textiles and wine.

He attended the Riksdag of Sweden five times during 1740–1765, representing the bourgeoisie estate for the Caps party during the Age of Liberty.[2]

Biography

Abraham Danielsson Hülphers was born in 1704 in Hedemora, Dalarna, as a son of the milliner Daniel Johansson Hülphers, and Catharina (née Torpensis).

On his paternal side, his great-grandfather was the ironmaster Hans Hilper, who immigrated to Nyköping circa 1625 from Schmalkalden, Holy Roman Empire. On his maternal side, his great-grandfathers included Petrus Petri Torpensis, and Anders Angerstein. In addition, he was descendant five times removed of Olaus Canuti Helsingius, and Stephanus Olai Bellinus. He was also a cousin of Nils Hülphers.[3]

Portrait (c.a 1750) of Abrahams Hülpher's wife, Christina Hülphers (née Westdahl) (1711–1767).

He married Christina (née Westdahl), daughter of the businessman and politician Lars Olofsson Westdahl in Västerås. Together they had 13 children, among them the musicologist Abraham Hülphers the Younger.

After an initial sejour in Stockholm, he settled permanently in Västerås where he was granted commercial privileges, followed by incremental investments alongside political duties.[4]

Besides his commercial interests, he also undertook municipal duties as judge at the city court of Västerås, and attended the Riksdag of Sweden five times during 1740–1765, representing the bourgeoisie estate for the Caps party during the Age of Liberty, which expanded Sweden's economic freedom as well as introduced the world's oldest constitutional implementation of freedom of the press.

With reputed interest in and patronage for the arts and humanities, extending beyond that of his family circles,[5] he issued some 25 000 copper Swedish riksdaler with annual rent designated for widows of Västerås.

Coat of arms of the Hülphers family with cornucopia supporters atop neoclassical epitaph of Abraham Hülphers the Elder and spouse inside Västerås Cathedral, erected (1772) by Johan Ljung (1717–1787), royal sculptor at Stockholm Palace.

Abraham Danielsson Hülphers died in 1770. He was buried in Västerås Cathedral in the tomb of bishop Olaus Stephani Bellinus, situated between the royal benches, which he as descendant was granted access to upon request in 1751. An epitaph by the royal sculptor at Stockholm Palace Johan Ljung (1717–1787) was erected in tribute by his issue in 1772, "crowned with the arms of Hülphers surrounded by a caduceus and fasces, symbols for commercial and political duties, as well as two cornucopias, mellifluous with coins and wine grapes."[6]

References
  1. "HSBs bostadsrättsförening Källhagen i Västerås" (PDF). hsb.se (in Swedish). 22 March 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 May 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  2. "Hülpherska samlingarna på Västerås stadsbibliotek" (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  3. "Hülphers, släkt" (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 27 September 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  4. Lundström, Brage. "Järnvågen i Västerås" (PDF) (in Swedish). Industrihistoriska föreningen i Västerås. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 September 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  5. "Abraham Abrahamsson Hülphers" (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  6. "Ansedel Abraham Danielsson Hülphers" (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 28 September 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2017.

Bibliography
  • Abraham Danielsson Hülphers (p. 42–43) in Tema 1700-talet by Sven Olsson (1914–2006); sv:Västmanlands läns museum
  • Graf-skrifter wid herr rådman Abraham Hülphers jorde-färd i Wästerås dom-kyrka den 13 decemb. 1770. Wästerås (1770; Print: Johan Laur. Horrn)
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