Mads Christian Holm (19 October 1827 - 23 September 1892) was a Danish shipbuilder and ship-owner. He founded the shipping company D/S Norden in Copenhagen in 1861 and Helsingør Dockyard in Helsingør in 1882. He is also remembered for his charitable donations to the church, an orphanage and a school in his home town Nykøbing Mors.
Early life and education
Holm was born in Nykøbing Mors, the illegitimate son of Maren Nielsdatter (1794–1854). His father is in the church records listed as servant Esper (Esben) Nielsen (1795–1880) but may have been a district bailiff (by- og hjerredsfoged) and justice councilor named Rummelhoff.[1] Either way. Esper Nielsen ended up marrying a well-to-do widow of a farmer, leaving Maren Nielsdatter and her son in very poor circumstances. Mads Christian frequently had to go out begging to get food on the table. He assumed the surname Holm after his mother married ship carpenter Lars Christensen Holm (1812–53) in 1838. After completing an apprenticeship as a ship carpenter in Thisted, following in his step father's footsteps, he worked on shipwarfs in Aalborg and Helsingør.[2]