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SØREN HJORTH.

Childhood and Youth.

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Søren Hjorth was born on the 13th of October, 1801. He spent his childhood at Vesterbygaard, an estate rented by his father, Jens Hjorth, in Jordløse Parish, north of Tissø. His mother’s maiden name was Margrethe Lassen. Of their numerous children only two, besides Søren, survived childhood.

The parents became early aware that their son possessed great mechanical genius. He received his first education from the parish school-master. After Hjorth was confirmed, his father leased the beautiful estate Dragsholm, in Odsherred County, where he remained for many years, and after the death of his first wife, he married baroness Zytphen-Adeler.

Though he did not have an opportunity of learning much in his childhood, Hjorth succeeded in his youth in passing an examination which admitted him to the Bar. Later on he became the steward of Bonderup Estate, near Korsør, but in this position he did not feel satisfied, and in 1828 he became a volunteer in the State Treasury, in Copenhagen. In 1836, he advanced to the position of Clerk of the Exchequer and secretary. Although Hjorth’s occupation, during the last 30 years of his life, was mainly that of a civil engineer, he always continued to be addressed as Secretary Hjorth, and by this title he is still remembered by some of his surviving contemporaries.

Hjorth’s interests while at the Treasury were not concentrated solely on his work there. Mechanical problems always fascinated him. It is told that, during this period, he made all kinds of experiments at Dragsholm, and, among other things, he constructed a thrashing-machine. In 1832 he constructed a rotary steam-engine, which was made by Schiødt, a mechanic residing at St. Annae Plads, and, upon Hjorth’s application, it was bought by the King for 500 rixdollars in notes. The King donated it to the newly founded Polytechnic Institute, this being the place where it might best be utilized and »where this original domestic invention might most suitably be placed«. The same year, Hjorth described in »Ursin’s Magazines for Artists and Artisans« a steam-car, invented by him and adapted to be propelled by means of the rotary steam-engine. So Hjorth once more made a petition to the Government for a subvention of 2000 to 2500 rixdollars to assist in the practical manufacture of this car. The decision on this application was postponed, however, at the suggestion of Professors Ørsted, Zeiss and Forchhammer, because Hjorth had not yet finished the installation of the boiler for the first steam-engine at the Polytechnic Institute. Hjorth did not succeed in making the engine work, as it was not made with sufficient accuracy. The sum for which the car was to be made, was never granted, as petitioned for, although Hjorth had given up using his rotary engine for it; and the car itself was probably never built.

At that time, the use of steam-cars on the country roads attracted great attention in England, and many different constructions appeared. In 1834 Hjorth, aided by subventions from the »Rejersen Foundation« and the Government, went to England, in order to acquaint himself with the use of these steam-cars on high-roads and railroads. During these years he very actively investigated the use of steam-power, especially as a means of propulsion for vehicles and ships. With admirable interest and diligence he studied the steam propelled road-carriage, and for a long time he considered that to be the future means of conveyance. Although he did not succeed in getting his own steam-carriage put to practical use, he made many experiments on a steam car, and I am told by one of his passengers that on the level streets of Copenhagen and Frederiksberg all went very well, but the carriage could not climb Valby hill.

During these years, Hjorth also attended the lectures at the Polytechnic Institute, and he was especially interested in Ørsted’s lectures on the physics of the globe, and on electricity and magnetism.

Notwithstanding his unsuccessful experiments with the rotary steam-engine, Professors Ørsted, Zeiss and Forchhammer had to give him a warm recommendation, when he made a petition to the Ministry in order to get his expenses refunded by the Government. They mentioned his indefatigable zeal, his great diligence, and the considerable expense borne by him in the pursuit of his researches. The numerous and expensive experiments absorbed all the money Hjorth could procure: not only his salary was spent, but also such funds as he was able to raise among his friends.