Albert Heinrich Riise

A.H. Riise, c. 1870

Albert Heinrich Riise (11 September 1810 – 18 October 1882), often referred to as A. S. Riise, was a Danish pharmacist and manufacturer on St. Thomas in the Danish West Indies. A brand of rum is still named A.S. Riise after him. Late in his life he returned to Denmark where Sankt Thomas Plads (St. Thomas Square) in the Frederiksberg district of Copenhagen is named after him. He was the father of photographer Frederik Riise.

Early life and education

Albert was the son of skipper and merchant Jens Christian Riise (1773-1814) and wife Margrethe Elisabeth Krabbe (1779-1869). The father died at sea when his ship accidentally perished a storm. After schooling, Albert is apprenticed at the pharmacist in Ærøskøbing and from 1825-30 he continued at the pharmacist in Fåborg. He then traveled to Copenhagen, where he graduated in 1832. While still studying botany and chemistry, he worked at various pharmacies in the capital at the same time.

Pharmacist on St. Thomas

Riise's pharmacy on Dronningensgade in Charlotte Amalie.

A long-cherished desire to get to the West Indies was fulfilled in 1838 when he managed to get the privilege as a pharmacist in the Danish West Indies. Upon arrival in Saint Thomas, he at first worked in a so-called doctor stall, driven by several ‘’doctors’’. The following year he established his own pharmacy in partnership with a doctor. In 1843, he was able to buy out the partner, so he became the sole owner of the pharmacy. It went well for A.H. Riise, the business grew, he traveled to the United States and Trinidad among others[1][2]

Equipped with a large stock of all kinds of goods, especially pharmaceutical products, St. Thomas Pharmacy became known in all the surrounding Caribbean islands as the place, where there was anything you might need for any household.

Riise had a lively interest in botany and with utilized Caribbean exotic plants and animal life for the preparation of pharmaceutical, cosmetic and alcoholic products.[2]

Manufacturer of rum

Among other things the well-known Riise's Bay Rum (some kind of scented water/perfume) which was strongly instrumental in A.H. Riise's later prosperity. A.H. Riise was also a pioneer in the distillation and sale of rum and bitter from the West Indies, as in the old days was used as a medicine for stomach ills and other hardships. A.H. Riise had great success with his West Indies rum, which was exported to several continents. Riise's rum was especially popular in the motherland of Denmark.[1]

A.H.Riise exported his rum under various trademarks, including Old St. Croix Brand, Riise's Guava rum, A.H. Riise rum with more. A.H. Riise's exclusive series of rum from the Caribbean is still marketed by Dansk-Vestindisk Rom Kompagni.

Over the years, A.H. Riise's rums have been honored and awarded medals at several competitions and exhibitions. The first was given to Riise in 1893 at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.[3]

Back to Denmark

When there were epidemics of both cholera, yellow fever, and Smallpox in 1868, the family decided to travel to Denmark for a year. However, when the year was over, they decided to stay. The pharmacy on St. Thomas was handed over to an assistant who married one of Riise's daughters. A son of this connection later became a pharmacist in Ærøskøbing.

Albert Riise bought a villa at Frederiksberg Allé, which he named St. Thomas. When the villa after Riise's death in 1882 was sold, it was transformed into an amusement park called St. Thomas.[4]

In addition, Albert Riise was Director of the ‘’Bank of St. Thomas’’, and was appointed Knight of Dannebrog, Knight of the Swedish Order of Vasa, in 1868 for Council of Justice and in 1878 for Etatsråd.[3]

He is buried at Solbjerg Park Cemetery.[5] A commemorative plaque has been set for him at his birthplace in Ærøskøbing.[6]

Personal life

On January 27, 1842 in Frederiksted on St. Croix, he got married to Henriette Marie Worm (1821 - 1889). The couple had 13 children, including Photographer Frederik Riise.

References

  1. 1 2 Loldrup, Hans Otto (2017). A.H. Riises Apotek på St. Thomas og I Vejle. Denmark: Frederiksberg Bogtrykkeri A/S. pp. 144–156. ISBN 978-87-89742-14-4.
  2. 1 2 1966-, Clague, Mark, (2008). The memoirs of Alton Augustus Adams, Sr. : first black bandmaster of the United States Navy. University of California Press. pp. 45, 70, 71. ISBN 9780520251311. OCLC 86172958.
  3. 1 2 "Awards and History AH Riise Rum". www.ahriiserum.com. Retrieved 2017-06-01.
  4. ↑ "A.H. Riise returned to Denmark in 1879..." Retrieved 2017-06-01.
  5. ↑ "Honoring A. H. Riise's gravesite at Solbjerg Park Cemetery, Frederiksberg in Copenhagen along with Mr. Carl Riise from Norway who is A. H. Riise's great-grandson. #ahriise - a.h.riiserum". instagrac. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
  6. ↑ "A.H. Riise". www.gravsted.dk. Retrieved 2017-06-01.
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