The founding father of KD on the tower of Cologne City Hall
The official founding date of KölnDüsseldorfer Deutsche Rheinschiffahrt GmbH is June 11, 1826. As this long-established company celebrates its 200th anniversary, the spotlight is also turning to a man who, during his lifetime, was one of the most prominent figures in the economic history of the Rhineland: Peter Heinrich Merkens.
Under the leadership of the merchant, entrepreneur, banker, and politician, the Prussian-Rhenish Steamship Company was founded two centuries ago. It later merged with the Steamship Company for the Lower and Middle Rhine, founded in 1836, to form the Cologne-Düsseldorf Steamship Company. The final merger of the two companies took place in 1967; until then, the two shipping companies had worked together as a joint operation for over 100 years.
's and Peter Heinrich Merkens's Grave
Knight of the French Legion of Honor
Peter Heinrich Merkens was not only the driving force behind the establishment of passenger shipping on the Rhine. Among other things, he was the first elected president of the Royal Prussian Chamber of Commerce in Cologne, later president of the Cologne Chamber of Commerce, and Cologne’s first representative in the Provincial Parliament. He received numerous awards. The Prussian king appointed him a Privy Councilor of Commerce, and the French king made him a Knight of the Legion of Honor.
Traces of Peter Heinrich Merkens can be found in several places throughout Cologne. He is part of the group of figures on the Cologne City Hall tower. There is Merkensstraße in Cologne-Ehrenfeld, and in the building of the Cologne Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Merkens Hall commemorates the former president. His grave is located at the Melaten Cemetery. Somewhat confusing is the date of birth, December 25, 1778, carved on the base of the tall stele. This is also what appears on the obituary notice. However, the baptismal register of the Evangelical Reformed parish of Mülheim/Rhein records that “the little son of Master Matthias Daniel Merkens, at the time deacon of this congregation, and Helena Petronella Kroon, who were married in Utrecht (!)”—was baptized on January 1, 1778, and named Peter Heinrich. His date of birth is given as “December 29 of the previous year,” that is, 1777.
" in Cologne-Ehrenfeld