Carl Jacobsen
The visionary brewer who transformed a local beer into a global empire and used its fortune to champion art and science.
1842–1914 (age 72)·Danish brewer, art collector and philanthropist·Birthday: March 2
Biography
Carl Jacobsen was a man of two powerful passions: perfect beer and profound beauty. Taking the reins of his father J.C. Jacobsen's Carlsberg brewery, he was not merely an inheritor but an innovator, pioneering the use of pure yeast cultures—a scientific breakthrough that ensured consistency and quality, revolutionizing brewing worldwide. This commercial genius funded his other life's work. A voracious art collector, Jacobsen amassed an astonishing collection of ancient and modern sculpture, founding the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek museum in Copenhagen to share it with the public. His philanthropy was equally expansive, funding the iconic Little Mermaid statue, supporting the National Museum, and endowing scientific research. He saw no divide between industry and art, believing a successful enterprise had a duty to enrich the cultural life of its society.
#1 When Carl Was Born
The biggest hits of 1842
Carl's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1842Born
1847Started school
1855Became a teenager
1858Could drive
1860Could vote
1863Turned 21
President: Abraham Lincoln
1872Turned 30
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1882Turned 40
First electrical power plant opens in New York
President: Chester A. Arthur
1892Turned 50
President: Benjamin Harrison
1902Turned 60
The eruption of Mount Pelee kills 30,000 in Martinique
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1912Turned 70
Titanic sinks on its maiden voyage
President: William Howard Taft
1914Died at 72
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
Key Achievements
- Pioneered the use of pure yeast culture in brewing, a fundamental scientific advancement that modernized the beer industry globally.
- Founded the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, a world-class museum in Copenhagen housing his vast personal collection of ancient and modern art.
- Commissioned and donated Edvard Eriksen's 'The Little Mermaid' statue to the city of Copenhagen, now its most famous landmark.
- Transformed Carlsberg from a local brewery into an international enterprise through technological innovation and shrewd business strategy.
Did You Know?
He had a replica of the Sistine Chapel built in his home for private contemplation of art.
Jacobsen's personal art collection was so vast he needed a custom-built museum, the Glyptotek, to hold it.
He was a major patron of sculptor Auguste Rodin and owned several of his works.
The Carlsberg Laboratory he established became a leading center for biochemical research.
“A work of art is a corner of creation seen through a temperament.”
