Erik Julin
Commercial Counsellor Erik Julin | |
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Born | |
Died | 21 June 1874 | (aged 77)
Monuments | bust in Turku (Walter Runeberg) |
Education | apothecary |
Board member of |
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Spouse | Christina SofianéeSundbäck |
Children | Erik Julin Jr. (1825–1857) |
Parent(s) | Johan Julin and Albertina née Karberg[1] |
Relatives | John von Julin(brother) Albert von Julin(nephew) |
Erik Julin(13 November 1796 – 21 June 1874) was aFinnishapothecary,shipownerandindustrialist.
After his studies Julin continued his father'spharmacyinTurku.He started ashippingbusiness which first operated locally and later overseas. Julin was founding owner ofRusso-Finnish Whaling Companyand significant owner of Turku shipbuildersÅbo SkeppswarfandW:m Crichton & C:o.
Julin initiated foundation of the firstvoluntary fire brigadeof Finland and he developed actively thefinancial sector.
Early years and studies
[edit]Julin was born inOulu,Ostrobothnia.His parents wereapothecaryJohan Julin and AlbertinanéeKarberg. Erik Julin continued his father's profession; he studied inTurku Cathedral Schoolin 1810–1813 and after this inImperial Academy of Turku.He spentacademic year1815–1816 inUniversity of Dorpat.Like his older brotherJohan Jakob,he decided to follow his father's steps in pharmaceutical field. Julin did hisinternshipin his father'spharmacyand also inStockholm.During 1819–1820 Julin studied in professorJohann Trommsdorff's pharmaceutical institute inErfurt,Prussiawhere he also learnt analysingminerals.Julin graduatedMaster of Pharmacyin 1820.[1]
Business areas
[edit]Pharmacy
[edit]After death of his father, Erik Julin gradually took over his pharmacy inTurkuin 1820–1826. A major setback took place in the following year, when the pharmacy building was destroyed in theGreat Fire of Turku.In 1830 Julin became the sole owner of his father'scinchonamill which is regarded the oldestpharmaceutical factoryofFinland.Julin managed large-scaleherbal medicinetrading between Finland andCentral Europe.[1]
Julin gave the apothecary business to his son, Erik Julin junior, in 1852. He died already five years later, after which Julin took back the business but sold it one year after.[1]
Shipping
[edit]Julin startedshippingbusiness in 1825 when he initiated founding a company for transport fromOstrobothnia.Bolaget för Österbottniska Kustfartenoperated between Turku and Ostrobothnian harbours for five years. In 1827 Julin founded shipping companyE. Julin & C.which during years 1827–1856 possessed sevenmerchant ships.The company most likely had partial ownership for some other vessels. The company owned merchant shipArthurwhich was among the first Turku freight ships which operated toAustralia.Julin's business partner was Joel Falcken in 1840–1852 and in 1844 the company was one of the largest taxpayers of Turku.[1]
Julin owned manysailing shipsbut promoted using ofsteamships.In 1836 he became shareholder in steam shipping company which operated between Turku andSaint Petersburg.Since 1849 the company name wasÅbo nya ångfartygsbolag.He was co-founder and major shareholder in 1856 foundedAurashipping company and 1857 startedÖsterbottniska Ångfartygs Ab.[1]
Shipbuilding
[edit]In 1838 Julin becameboardmember inÅbo Gamla Skeppswarf,Turku old shipyard. He was one of the company managers in 1842–1846 until he was replaced by his old business partner Joel Falcken. Julin had a key role in promoting investments at the yard and made deals of ships delivered to theRussian-American Company.Julin gained a strong foothold in the Turkushipbuildingindustry after together with his business partnerWilliam Crichtonhe took over engineering company Cowie & Eriksson. In 1862 the company was renamedW:m Crichton & C:o.[1]
Whaling
[edit]The Russian-American Company grew strongly in the 1840s and 1850s and needed new ships. By help of the Finnish-bornAlaskanpoliticiansArvid Adolf EtholénandJohan Hampus Furuhjelm,the Finnishshipyards,sailors,whale huntersand shipowners got new business opportunities. Many of the company's new ships were built at Turku old shipyard in the late 1830s and early 1840s. Julin founded a shipping company that worked under assignment of the Russian-American Company. The company planned starting whaling in Alaskan waters, but after long negotiations, in 1851 Julin had his will of foundingRusso-Finnish Whaling Companywhich was owned half by the Russian-American Company and half by Turku businessmen. Thehead officewas situated in Turku and Julin became its manager. The company had fivewhalerswhich were the first of their kind to sail under the Russian flag. The business suffered from theCrimean War.The whaling company was discontinued in 1860.[1]
Other
[edit]While Julin's business was focused on apothecary operations and shipping, he also owned awater millinHalinenrapids and two small factories, of which one producedsoapandcandles,and the other onesailcloth.[1]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/Erik_Julin_bust_3.jpg/180px-Erik_Julin_bust_3.jpg)
Contributions in social development
[edit]Julin was interested in developing agriculture; his main interest werehorseandfruitbreeding andapiculture.In 1856–1858 he was theDeputy Chairmanof the Finnish Household Society.[1]
In 1849 Julin initiated founding of the Finnish Marine Insurance Association. He also suggested starting a similar association for freight and goods, and forpeasants' ships. In 1856 Julin was set into a committee that was planning economical reforms in Finland. He strove getting arailway connection between Helsinki and Turku,and belonged to group of businessmen who would have built the railway with private funding in case the construction would not have been paid frompublic funds.Julin worked actively to develop banking operations and he became the local agent ofSuomen Yhdyspankkiin Turku in 1862.[1]
When Turku was rebuilt after the great fire Julin made many suggestions to develop the cityscape.Façadeof his house, designed byPehr Johan Gylich,still exists. He took part in founding the firstvoluntary fire brigadeof Finland in Turku. Julin was one of the organisers ofnursing educationduring Crimean War. In 1858 he was the driving force infundraisingand distribution of aid forFinnish Warveterans.[1]
Family
[edit]Julin married Christina Sofia née Sundbäck in 1822. Their son was at young age deceased Erik Julin Jr. (1825–1857).[1]