Christian Ancher Collett

Who was Christian Ancher Collett?

Christian Ancher Collett was a Norwegian engineer.

He was born as the oldest child of Peter Collett and Johanne Henriche Ancher. He had two older half-siblings, as well as eight younger siblings, of whom one died before reaching the age of one.

He married Anna Karine Bie. The couple had five children. Their daughter Johanne Benedicte married Peder Christian Hersleb Kjerschow, bishop of the diocese of Bjørgvin. Through this marriage Christian Ancher Collett had the great-grandson Christian Michelsen, statesman and Prime Minister.

An engineer, Christian Ancher Collett was a director of Kongsberg Silver Mines. In 1816 King Charles II appointed him as a consultant to manage the royal buildings around Christiania. The construction of the Royal Palace commenced during this period. He held this position until his death in 1833, and was succeeded by Christian Heinrich Grosch. The position is considered the predecessor of the government agency Statsbygg.