G. Unger Vetlesen
| Georg Unger Vetlesen | |
|---|---|
| Born |
January 31, 1889 Oslo, Norway |
| Died | March 24, 1955 (aged 66) Queens, New York |
| Occupation | philanthropist |
Georg Unger Vetlesen (January 31, 1889 – March 24, 1955) was a Norwegian shipbuilder and naturalized American philanthropist.
Vetlesen was born in Oslo, Norway, the son of a well-known Norwegian surgeon. At age eleven, he became a crew member on a ship bound for Copenhagen. He earned degrees in naval architecture and mechanical engineering from the Imperial Institute of London, and went on to work for a British shipbuilding firm. In 1913, Vetlesen migrated to Canada where he worked as a miner. In 1916 he migrated to the United States and worked in the shipbuilding industry.
During World War II, Vetlesen worked to rebuild the Royal Norwegian Air Force. In 1943 he joined the United States Navy, as a Commander in the Special Forces headquarters in London to work with the Norwegian resistance. After the war, Vetlesen led the United States company representing the Norwegian America Line, and was a founder and chairman of the board of Scandinavian Airlines System.
In 1932, Vetlesen married Maude Monell (1877-1958), widow of Ambrose Monell (1873-1921), the former Chairman of International Nickel Company, Ltd. who had died in 1921. G. Unger Vetlesen died in Queens County, New York on March 22, 1955.
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