Sir John Rice Crowe (November 20, 1795 – January 10, 1877) was an English businessman and diplomat who spent much of his life in Norway. He was the British consul-general in Norway, residing in Christiania, from 1843.[1] [2]
Together with Henry Dick Woodfall, John Rice Crowe started the company Alten Copper Works near Alta around 1826.[2] [3] This company was later renamed the Kåfjord Copper Works.
After serving for six years as a British diplomat in Russia, Crowe became the deputy vice-consul in Hammerfest in 1824.[4] Thirteen years later, in 1837, he was appointed British consul in Finnmark, with the requirement to live in Hammerfest.[4] In 1843 he became the general consul for Norway; as such he was the highest British representative in Norway.[4]
Crowe's uncle was an admiral in the English navy.[4] Crowe was married to a Norwegian, Malene Marie Waad (1802–1843).[2]
His daughter Anna Cecilie Crowe (1829–1914) was married to major Norwegian industrialist Halvor Schou. His son Henry Woodfall Crowe was British consul in Helsingfors.[3] His son Septimus Crowe (1842–1903) was British Vice Consul and acting Consul-General in Christiania, but emigrated to Mexico in the 1880s.[5]
He became a Companion of the British Order of the Bath in 1859 for outstanding service as a diplomat for his homeland.[4] In Norway he became a Commander of the Order of St. Olav. Crowe was knighted by Queen Victoria on 7 July 1874.[2] [6]