Biography of Jonas Alstroemer


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Alstroemer (al-stro'-mer), Jonas, a Swede, born 1685. Remarkable for the great commercial improvements which he introduced into his native country. Of very humble origin, he was for a time unable to surmount the obstacles which arose from the poverty that oppressed him. He visited England, and having minutely noticed the sources of its manufacturing prosperity, returned to Sweden and obtained permission to establish a manufactory at Alingsas, in West Gothland, his birthplace. So extensive and successful were the manufacturing and agricultural resources which he introduced into Sweden that the state, in acknowledgement of his merit, conferred on him a patent of nobility, made him chancellor of commerce, and erected a statue to his honor on the Stockholm Exchange. Died, 1761.