James Collett


James Collett was an English-born, Norwegian merchant.
James Collett was born in London, England. As a young man, he worked for an English wholesaler. In 1683, he settled in Christiania, Norway as factor of English merchants. In 1686, he married Karen Leuch, daughter of the wealthy Christiania merchant Peder Pedersen Leuch. With time, he became the largest timber trader in Christiania. In the early 18th century, he exported more timber from Christiania than anybody else and operated a fleet of ships. The firm he founded, Collett & Leuch,, continued within the family for four generations.

Personal life

The marriage of James Collett and Karen Leuch resulted in the birth of nine children. The family became part of the patriciate of Christiania in the 18th century.