Nicolai Benjamin Aall (1739–1798) was a Norwegian businessman, ship-owner, property owner and timber merchant.
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Background
Nicolai Benjamin Aall was born at Porsgrund, Norway, the first son of Niels Jacobsen Aall (1702–1784) and Benedicte Henrikke Bergh (1714–1748). Niels Jacobsen Aall was a lumber merchant and shipowner who had been born in London. He moved to Porsgrund in 1712. Benedicte Henrikke was from Moss and was the second of three wives. At nine years old Nicolai Benjamin lost his mother, but five years later his father married Fredrikke Sophie Rasch (1726–1760).
Nicolai Benjamin's younger half-brother Jacob Aall (1754–1826) became a noted wholesaler, whereas his youngest half-sister Benedicta Henrikka Aall (1756–1813) married Severin Løvenskiold (1743–1818). Their son, Severin Løvenskiold (1777–1856) was his nephew.
Career
Aall graduated from the University of Copenhagen and took examination as a theologian in 1759, but later turned to work in his father's business. He acquired burghership as a merchant in 1772. In 1777, he took over two sawmills in Skien and forested property near the border of Telemark. In 1782 he purchased the entire work with associated properties. In 1796 he and Diderik von Cappelen, brother of his son-in-law Ulrich Fredrich von Cappelen, established a rope factory (Reperbane) at Vestre Porsgrunn to meet the needs of the shipbuilding industry.