Background
He was born in Arendal as a son of merchant Johan Collett Dedekam and his wife Sophie Hedevig Smith.
He was born in Arendal as a son of merchant Johan Collett Dedekam and his wife Sophie Hedevig Smith.
He attended school in Copenhagen and commerce school in England, and opened his own business when returning to Arendal.
After becoming Mayor, Dedekam sat until 1861. He also wrote several books on his town and district, including 1860"s Bidrag til Kjøbstaden Arendals Beskrivelse. He also co-founded Arendal Museum in 1831, and was the museum"s first director
Through her he was a brother-in-law of Ole Falk Ebbell.
Descendents include Sophie Dedekam and Hans Ellefsen Dedekam.