Ole Kirk Christiansen

Ole Kirk Christiansen
First leader and founder of The Lego Group
In office 10 August 1932 (1932-08-10) – 11 March 1958 (1958-03-11)
Succeeded by	Godtfred Kirk Christiansen
Personal details
Born	(1891-04-07)7 April 1891 Filskov, South Jutland, Denmark
Died	11 March 1958(1958-03-11) (aged 66) Billund, Denmark
Spouse	Kirstine Christiansen ​ ​ (m. 1916; died 1932)​
Children	4 (including Godtfred)
Occupation	Carpenter
Known for	Founding the Lego company.

Ole Kirk Christiansen (7 April 1891 – 11 March 1958) was a Danish carpenter. In 1932, Christiansen founded the Danish construction toy company The Lego Group.

Early years

Christiansen was born in Filskov, South Jutland, Denmark, the 10th child of an impoverished family in Jutland. Although in poverty, he was able to receive a basic high-school education. Ole turned to work in a factory, then eventually transitioned to woodwork and afterwards a master-carpenter.

Early work

In 1905, when Christiansen was 14, he began working as an apprentice to his brother. In 1911 he left Denmark and went to work in carpentry for five years in Germany. Ole bought the Billund Woodworking and Carpentry Shop with money he'd saved, and made profitable sales over the years. Ole married the daughter of a Norwegian cheese-maker, Kristine Sorensen. Together, they had four children: Johannes, Karl, Godtfred and Gerhardt.

First fire

In 1924, Karl and Godtfred began to tinker with wood shavings. A fire broke out consequently. Both the factory and their home burned down.

Beginnings of LEGO

Depression

During the early 1930s, Ole's business fell into the Great Depression as its peak rose in Denmark. Ole was able to make items such as Christmas tree stands and toys. His business was becoming slow. The primary income, which was from sales of ladders and ironing boards, was shrinking in demand. Eventually, Ole had to dismiss his last worker, and his wife died. Ole decided to officially found an unnamed company (later to become LEGO).

Sales in the Depression

Christiansen's company began to focus primarily on the production of toys. The company used the highest quality of birch wood and sold numerous varieties of toys. Ole earned a reputation for his work and maintained steady sales. This just managed to carry profits during the depression. Godtfred also became Ole's second-in-command.

LEGO name

Christiansen wanted a name for the group. In 1934, he launched a competition to name the company. The prize was a bottle of his own homemade wine. He created his own name, Lego, and he won it himself. Lego is a shortened form of the Danish words Leg godt, meaning "play well", and the company grew to become The Lego Group.

1940s and 1950s

Christiansen's company expanded throughout the 1940s and 1950s. In 1947, he purchased a self-moulding machine and began production of plastic toys. His son Godtfred became managing director and later CEO. All of Ole's sons assisted in his company, and in 1958 the LEGO Brick patent was created.

Death

On 11 March 1958, Christiansen died from a heart attack at the age of 66, and his third son Godtfred promptly took over the company until his death in 1995.