Jacob Björnström

Jacob Björnström attended a Swedish school in Hamina before he completed an apprenticeship at the Valkiakoski paper mill. In 1901 he moved to England and later to France representing major companies in the wood pulp and timber industry. From 1907-18, he was the procurator of the Finnish Wood Grinding Association. Subsequently, he was appointed deputy director of the Finnish Cellulose Association. In this position, he was a member of the board of several companies in this industry.

Björnström also acted a consular agent for France in Vyborg. With his wife Gertrud (née Erikson) he had two sons. He was a member of the crew of the Finnish 10 metres yacht “Nina”, which placed second at the 1912 Olympic Games. In a race-off for silver they beat the Russian yacht “Gallia II”. His son Erik and his grandsons Henrik and Martin were to become Finnish champions in sailing. Wiborgs Läns Segelförening still exists and is now located on the island of Våtskär on the Finnish south coast between Vyborg and Helsinki.

In 1935, Björnström was killed in an automobile accident on the highway 28 km south of Ivalo in the Inari municipality, Finland. The group of five men was on their way to Petsamo in the early morning, when one of the rear wheels came off. The car cartwheeled and Björnström was killed on the spot when his head was crushed between the car and a rock. Three other passengers were injured and only the driver survived almost unharmed.