Arent Solem

Background

Arent Bjørnsen Solem was born in Klæbu, Søndre Trondhjems Amt, Norway.

Career

Solem made success as a merchant and property investor in both Trøndelag and Christiania. After Hauge"s death in 1824, Solem"s connection with the Haugean movement was weakened. He returned to Trøndelag in 1840, where he died in 1857.

He later made success as a merchant and property investor in Trondheim, before he established a flax weavery in Moholt.

After advice from Hans Nielsen Hauge, Solem bought the fishing and trade centre Sør-Gjæslingan in Sør-Trøndelag. In 1825, Solem moved to Christiania, where he bought the farms Sandaker and Storo and started a mill-and-saw enterprise at Bjølsen.

The farm became a centre for Grundtvigianism. Solem also extended the mill at Bakke which Hans Nielsen Hauge had earlier built in 1815.

In 1840, Solem went home with his family to Trondheim, where he continued with his mercantile business.

He established during this time a shipyard in Hommelvik. Solem married Randi Andersdatter Nideng (1775–1859) at some point after 1800, although the exact year is disputed. His and her entry in Norsk biografisk leksikon, both written by Andreas Aarflot, state that the marriage occurred on 9 July 1805.

Historian Sverre Røvik considers this less likely, as they both met in the Haugean network many years before.

Connections

follower:

Hans Nielsen