Kristofer Lehmkuhl: 'Father of the school'
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| Statsråd Kristofer Lehmkuhl, 1855 - 1949 | |
Statsråd (Cabinet Minister) Kristofer Lehmkuhl (1855-1949) was an untiring champion for NHH. Perhaps more than anyone else he had the honour of ensuring that NHH became established, and right up to his death he followed the activity of the school with a never weakening interest. He is therefore rightfully called the 'Father of the school'.
The name Statsråd Lehmkuhl is today strongly associated with the sail training vessel, based in Bergen, of the same name. The ship's history began in Bremerhaven-Geestemünde where she was built in 1914 as a school training ship for the German merchant marine. She was taken as booty by the British after World War I, and in 1921 she was brought to Bergen by Kristofer Lehmkuhl to be used as a school training ship. The ship was renamed Statsraad Lehmkuhl and Bergens Skoleskib operated the vessel continuously until 1966. In 1967 the shipping magnate Hilmar Reksten rescued the ship from being sold out of the country, and in 1978 he donated the Statsraad Lehmkuhl to Stiftelsen Seilskipet Statsraad Lehmkuhl, a foundation which has owned and operated the ship ever since.
Lehmkuhl himself was born in Bergen in 1855 and after an excellent academic record at school, a time during which he also distinguished himself as capable speaker and debater, he moved to Oslo (then called Christiania) to study philosophy at the university there. After graduating he spent some time in Germany and Great Britain learning their languages and developing the business knowledge and contacts that would help his future business career. Once back in Bergen, Lehmkuhl joined the family business selling fish and in 1883 (aged 27) he became a partner in company. At that time fish was by far the largest export for Norway and new technology in the form of new, faster steamships was causing major changes to a centuries old business.
Lehmkuhl adapted to change, moving into new products and new markets, and rose to a leading position in the fisheries industry in Norway. His first official position was as a member of Selskabet for de Norske Fiskeriers Fremme (company for the advancement of Norwegian fisheries) from its foundation in 1879. The company had as its goal the development and promotion of Norwegian fisheries companies. In 1882 the company set up the Norwegian Fisheries Museum in Bergen, started research into fisheries and established a library and a quarterly journal for the fisheries industry, Norsk Fiskeritidende. Lehmkul joined the company's board in 1881 aged 26 and became its leader in 1891 aged 36. In 1898 he became a deputy member of the stock exchange committee in Bergen and in 1903 he was elected its head, børskommisar.
While building a successful career in business, Lehmkuhl was also active in politics. He was already a candidate for the conservative party in 1886 and in 1893 Lehmkul became elected to the city council in Bergen. From the first meeting he was actively pursuing his party's agenda. The Mayor of Bergen at that time was none other than Christian Michelsen, later to become the first Prime Minister of the newly independent Norway. In 1903, Lehmkuhl was elected as the first member of parliament for Bergen and in 1905 Michelsen asked Lehmkuhl to join the first government of an independent Norway on its independence from Sweden in 1905. Lehmkuhl joined the cabinet as Minister of Labour and served for 3 years dramatic years as the newly independent nation took control of its own affairs and future direction.
In December 1907 Lehmkuhl was elected to the board of Det Bergenske Dampskipsselskap (The Bergen Steamship Company), becoming Chairman in 1908. Three years later he took assumed the double role of Chairman and Managing Director. He quickly made his enterprising spirit felt in the company. The strategy he developed and implemented followed three key principles: expansion, internationalisation and strategic alliances. By the time Lehmkuhl retired from Det Bergenske Dampskipsselskap at the age of 81, his visionary leadership had taken a small shipping firm and transformed it into a large international shipping business, surviving the war years and the Great Depression.
Lehmkuhl was a man who preferred doing things rather than merely discussing them, and his drive to ensure that a Norwegian school of business was established in Bergen graphically illustrates this. Lehmkul had been a strong champion for the establishment of a business school in Bergen from 1900, and from 1916 he was a driving force in Foreningen til Opprettelse av Norges Handelshøiskole i Bergen (association for the establishment of the Norwegian school of business in Bergen). His work ensured that not only was the school established but that it was established in Bergen, Norways historic home of trade. After a long hard campaign, he saw his dream realised and he joined King Haakon VII in opening the new school on Monday the 7th of September, 1936.
Lehmkul (front row, left) at the opening of NHH, 7th September 1936
Trade ethics was a point that Lehmkuhl insisted on. He upheld the same vows, consciously or unconsciously, that his grandfather had promised at his Gesell examination at Bryggen in 1803 to become ein ehrsamer Kaufmann - an honest merchant. In his opening speech at the inauguration of NHH in 1936 he impressed on the students the importance of business morals:
"It is not unusual" he said, "to hear merchants characterised as unnecessary intermediaries and as a class of people with different concepts of right and wrong. In view of my long and varied experience, I feel I have the right to say that the world cannot dispense with merchants; furthermore the morals, the concepts of honesty, uprightness and the duty of the merchant world are more than equal to those of other groups of people. This is only natural. Trade can only flourish in openness and honesty. A merchant is a man of his word, whether written or oral. There may be many exceptions in all countries, but it is unacceptable to say, as I once heard a prominent man pronounce when he was reminded of a promise, 'but it was not a written promise'."
Lehmkuhl concluded his speech with inspiring word for the new students, "You shall create you own station in life, but at the same time the high endeavours behind your work shall serve the country and society where you live. Civic spirit and civic duty shall lead your work and your life." Kristofer Lehmkuhl was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of St Olav for his efforts and he continued to take an active interest in NHH remaining Chairman of Foreningen for NHH i Bergen until his death in 1949.
NHH has honoured Kristofer Lehmkuhl's memory by holding an annual lecture in his name for students, academic staff and invited guests. The lecture is held as close as possible to Kristofer Lehmkuhl's birthday on 26th September. The student association has honoured Lehmkuhl by naming their campus sports facilities Lehmkuhlhallen.
A statue stands to the memory of Statsråd Lehmkuhl in front of the main building of the school, looking over the sea towards the harbour of Bergen where the sailing training vessel bearing his name is based.
Statue of Lehmkuhl, gazing across the sea towards the city of Bergen
