ANDERSEN, HANS NIELS (1852— ), Danish ship owner and merchant, was born at Nakskov in poor circumstances.
He went to sea and in 1884, having gained experience by trading with the East, he founded the business of Andersen and Co., at Bangkok, opening in 1894 a branch house in Copenhagen. In 1897 he established at Copenhagen Det Oestasiatiske Kompagni (The East Asiatic Company) which soon became the largest commercial enterprise in Denmark and one of the few Danish undertakings of world-wide renown. In 1912 at Copenhagen, the company launched the first large motor-ship. Owing to his powers of administration and his extensive connections throughout the world he rendered important services to his country during the World War.
See A. Fraenkel, Verden med dansk Maal eller Danmark coed Ver densmaal (1916) .