Søren Frich

Søren Frich (20 September 1827 – 7 May 1901) was a Danish engineer, factory owner and city Councillor who built the Frichs company.^[1] He became one of the largest employers in the city and the Frichs factory became one of the only locomotive producers in Denmark. Frich was elected to the Aarhus city council three times.^[2]

Søren Frich was born in Nim Parish in the manor Bolund vest of Horsens in 1827. He was the son of Johan Peter Frich and Johanne Marie Harpøth. His father was a lawyer and later a member of Landstinget. From 1842-1845 Frich attended the scientific school in Aarhus and then moved to Copenhagen where he attended Polyteknisk Læreanstalt. Between 1848 and 1850 he served with the Danish military during the First Schleswig War. He was wounded during the Battle of Isted and lost a lung to a gunshot wound. After convalescing he moved to Frederiksværk to study iron casting. 2 years later in 1852 he started a study trip to England and Belgium. On this trip he saw how far ahead other countries were in terms of industrial production.^[2][3]

In summer of 1853 Frich returned home to Aarhus and the folloing year he established a new factory on the corner of Søndergade and Sønder Allé. He bought the land with funds borrowed from his father and got permission to build his foundry in less than a month. He pproceded to use the knowledge he had obtained during his travels and quickly buillt a reputation for skill and reliability. The factory initially produced tools and implements for agriculture and construction. During the industrial revolution production was diversified to wind mills, trains and steam engines. Especially his machines for the oil and soap industries won acclaim and at the 1878 World's Fair in Paris Frich won a bronze medal for them. In 1885 Frich resigned and sold the factory, the largest industrial employer in the city.^[3][2]

Søren Frich was also politically active but with varying success. In 1870 he was elected to the city council for Højre. He started his tenure with a proposal to expand the harbor north of the city and to include a ship yard. The proposal did not get the necessary votes and Søren Frich in response resigned from the city council. Public pressure brought him back but in 1872 he resigned again. In 1882 he was elected for a third and last time, this time lasting a month. Although his political career did not bring great results he continued to let his voice be heard in the local press where he frequently argued for larger port facilities. His well-researched letters and publications would eventually form the basis for future harbor expansions.^[2]

Søren Frich died on 7 May 1901 and was buried on Åbyhøj Church cemetery.^[4]

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