Ramsey County History – Fall 1967: “Charles Borup: Fur Trader, Banker, Lumberman, and Minnesota’s First Danish Consul”

Charles Borup: Fur Trader, Banker, Lumberman, and Minnesota’s First Danish Consul
Author: Nancy L. Woolworth

Charles Borup lived in St. Paul only eleven years. Born in Copenhagen in 1806, he was educated to be a physician, but chose adventure instead. In about 1830, he landed at the Mackinac Island fur trading post. In 1848, he set up his fur trading business in St. Paul, and quickly expanded into real estate and banking, “the first legitimate banking-house in St. Paul.” Borup and his wife built a fine “villa” downtown and were renowned for their musical soirees. He died suddenly in 1859 leaving a large estate, a widow, and nine children.
PDF of Woolworth article