Francis Zachariae
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Francis Zachariae | |
|---|---|
 Francis Zachariae in circa 1900 | |
| Born | 29 March 1852 Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Died | 6 September 1936 (aged 84) Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman and publisher |
| Awards | Knight of the Dannebrog |
Francis James Zachariae (29 March 1852 – 6 September 1936) was a Danish businessman, local historic publisher and philanthropist. He is today mainly remembered for publishing Før og Nu (I-IX and Supplements I-II) with topographical-historical images of Copenhagen from 1915 to 1927.
Zachariae was born in Copenhagen, the son of medical doctor Georges James Zachariae (1818–88) and Margaret Fanny Lang (1824-1909). He graduated from Efterslægtselskabets Skole in 1868 and was thereafter an apprentice in S. Seidelin and Benny Goldschmidt in Copenhagen and Robinow & Majoribank in Glasgow.[1]
Commercial career
Zachariae worked for Landmandsbanken in 1872-74. In 1874, he established a company making clothes for men in Copenhagen. He later also opened a retail store under the name Zachariaes Magasiner at Kultorvet 16.[2] It was for many years one of the leading firms in the industry in Denmark. Zachariae headed the firm until 1931 and it was then passed to his long-time employee J. M. Rohwedder (1871-1950). In 1892, Zachariae founded the Association of Manufacturers of Gentlemen Clothing in Copenhagen (Foreningen af københavnske fabrikanter af herreklæder). He served as president of the association from 1911 to 1920.
Publisher and local historian
Zachariae used historical images in advertisements for his business. This inspired him to found a topographical-historical publication about the city. He published Før og Nu I-IX, in 1915-23 followed by two Supplementary publications I–II in 1924-27. He was personally deeply incolced in the work with compiling an extensive collections of often rare images from Copenhagen. The accompanying text by changing writers is of varying quality.[1]
