Alfred Larsen

Alfred Larsen graduated from Christiania Handelsgymnasium in 1881. His father was a wholesaler in Oslo (Kristiania), importing and selling wine and spirits. Some years after his father’s death he took over management of the company in 1884. When the wine monopoly was implemented in 1922, the business was converted into the limited company P. A. Larsen A/S with agencies and cigarette manufacturing.

Larsen was a member of Kristiania’s Chamber of Commerce and held various cultural and social honorary posts. He was also actively involved in the development of the Holmenkollen resort. In 1909, he was appointed the first knight of the order of Oslo’s Mercantile Club, founded by students who had graduated from the commercial high school. From 1902 he served as superintendent of the Kristiania Old Poor House for more than 25 years.

Larsen was married twice. He married his first wife, Magdalena “Magda” Caroline Bergh, in 1890. In 1949, at the age of 85 and more than 20 years after her death, Bergljot Victoria Maria Jønsson became his second wife, but he died just one year later. He was appointed Knight of the Order of St. Olav in 1912 and was a holder of the Portuguese Order of Conceição de Vila Vicosa.

Alfred was an avid sailor from childhood. After the formation of the Royal Norwegian Sailing Association (KNS) in 1905, he became a board member, and from 1909-13 the club’s chairman. Subsequently, he was appointed an honorary member.

Over the years, Larsen owned numerous large sailboats from 10 to 15 metres including 13 named Magda. In 1912, he was helmsman of the Magda IX, winning gold at the Stockholm Olympics, coming from behind, however, in both races. Among his two sons and one daughter was Petter Larsen, also a crew member in 112. In the same year, he received first prizes for three consecutive days at the sailing week in Kiel.