Background
He was the son of Tollach Michelsen, a manual laborer with roots in the Egersund district.
politician member of the Parliament of Norway
He was the son of Tollach Michelsen, a manual laborer with roots in the Egersund district.
Tollach"s wife Madsi Magdalena Eide (died 1829) came from the same social background. Their son was the later Norwegian Prime Minister Christian Michelsen. Christian Michelsen was named after Jacob"s father-in-law, bishop Peder Christian Hersleb Kjerschow.
Michelsen worked himself up from the modest social background.
A businessman, he was awarded burghership in 1847. He was a grain trader, wine grocerer and consul, stock exchange commissioner from 1870 to 1902 and bank director from 1870.
He served as mayor of Bergen from 1865 to 1866 and 1876 to 1878. He was elected from his city to the Norwegian Parliament in 1868 and 1871.