Anker Heegaard

Steffen Peder Anker Heegaard (29 July 1815 – 19 September 1893) was a Danish industrialist. His company was headquartered in Havnegade in Copenhagen and operated two manufacturing sites in Nørrebro and Frederiksværk. Products included cast ironware, steam engines and agricultural machines. He was a member of Copenhagen City Council from 1868 to 1885 and president of Industriforeningen from 1871 to 1876.

Heegaard was born in Copenhagen, the son of Mathias Anker Heegaard (1776–1837) and Henrikke Baggine Heegaardnée Hornemann (1780–1849). His father was the owner of a hardware store and in 1828 also established a small iron foundry in Nørrebro. Aftyer his confirmation, Heegaard became an apprentice in his father's hardware store. He also attended Det von Westenske Institut in Nørregade.

Heegaardand his elder brother Christian August Heegaard (1810–79) continued their father's business after his death in 1837.

Anker Hegaard became the sole owner of the iron foundry in 1847. The company had by then also moved into the market for industrial and agricultural machines. It gradually developed into one of the largest of its kind in the country, In 1857, he acquired Frederick's Works in Frederiksværk inn auction for 188,000Danish rigsdaler from the government. He installed a steam engine and constructed a harbor at the site. That same year he also acquired a ceramic manufactory in Blågårdsgade in Copenhagen which specialized in salt-glazed pipes. The site was then converted into an iron foundry. The company constructed a new head office and storage facilities at Havnegade 37 in 1870. A wide selection of its products, from enameled pots and other kitchenware to machines, was featured on the 1972 Nordic Exhibition.

Heegaard was a co-founder ofthe Free Trade Society (Frihandelsforeningen) in 1862 but later argued in facour of more protectionist policies. He was president of Industriforeningen in 1871–76. The organisation was the driving force behind the 1872 Nordic Exhibition in Copenhagen. Another important initiative was the opening of the new Techinical Society's School in Nørre Voldgade in 1876. Ge also served on the board of Arbejderforeningen af 1860, where he worked for the realization of the association's new headquarters which opened in 1986. He was a member of Copenhagen City Council from 1868–85 and a co-founder of Dansk Sparemærkekasse in 1881.

Heegaard married Louise Christine Feilberg (11 December 1821 – 13 January 1905 ) on 14 September 1844 in Sindsted. She was a daughter of office manager in the Bank of Denmark Henning Frederik Feilberg (1771–1841).

Heegaard retired in 1884, ceding his company to his sons Louis Heegaard (1845–1914) and Henning Frederik Christian Mathias Anker Heegaard (1858–1910) and the son-in-law Bjørn Stephensen (1855–1940).

Heegaard was made a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog ub 1872 and etatsråd in 1883. He died on19 September 1893 and was buried in Assistens Cemetery in Copenhagen. He left DKK 350.000 to charity.

His heirs the iron foundry in Copenhagen. Their Frederiksværk operations merged with Svendborg-based L. Lange & Co. in 1918. The company was in 1930 merged into De forende Jernstøberier.

He is commemorated with a bust at Gkæthjuset in Frederiksværk. It was created by Louis Hasselriis. Anker Heegaards Gade in the Rysensteen Wiarter of Copenhagen and Anker Heegaardsgade in Frederiksværk are named after him.