Anders Olsen

Anders Olsen (* 1718 on Senja / Norway, † 1786) was a Norwegian- Danish merchant and colonial administrator, who became important through the establishment of several towns in Greenland.

At this time Denmark tried to improve trade in sealskins and blubber in Greenland. For this purpose, was founded by founded in 1747 the Royal determinants general trading company (Det Kongelige Octroyerede Almindelige trade Compagnie ). As of 1776 had in 1774 as "Royal Greenlandic Trade" ( Kongelige Grønlandske trade ) or KGH designated company a monopoly on all trade in these products in Greenland and had to secure this primacy build trading posts and explore new routes and fishing grounds. Anders Olsen took over the role of a dealer, manager and explorer in this situation.

1754 Olsen realized the need for a settlement between Godthåb (Nuuk ) and Frederikshåb ( Paamiut ) because the vast, populated by only a few Inuit route between these cities constituted a major impediment to trade. For this reason, he built the trading post Fiskenaesset ( Qeqertarsuatsiaat ).

1755 Olsen founded the city Sukkertoppen / Maniitsoq at the site of the present Kangaamiut.

In 1756 he built with Niels Egede, second son of Hans Egede, the colony Sydbay on the island Ukiivik north of the present town of Sisimiut, where the colony was laid in 1764.

Also, to the study of the former Norse settlers in Greenland is acquired Olsen merits: Around 1770 he explored the area around present-day Qaqortoq, where he discovered remnants of Scandinavian settlements. 1776-1777 Olsen undertook a journey of discovery in search of the then undiscovered Eystribyggð ( Ostsiedlung ) of the Northmen and reached there an area about 45 km north of Prins Christian Sund at the then unexplored east coast of the country.

In 1775 he founded the colony Julianehåb ( Qaqortoq ). In the arms of the city its founder is today represented by a scale, which symbolizes his dealer profession.

In 1782 he built with his Greenlandic wife Tuperna (ca. 1726-1789 ), the settlement Igaliku at the site of the Nordic settlement Garðar. From the ruins of the Bishop's seat, they built homes and started farming (mainly sheep ) to operate, a tradition that continues there to this day by their descendants.