The
family came to Sweden around 1805 with Henrik (Heyman) Heilborn
(sometimes spelt Heijlborn).
He was a private tutor. Henrik1776-1852 was born in the city
of Rosenberg in Silesia.
He belonged to the so-called Breslaubranch, which is said to
be traceable to Germany as far back as the 14th century.
Henrik
was married around 1820 to Jeanette Benjamin (1787-1838) . She
originated from Hamburg. The family lived mainly in Stockholm.
Henrik made big contributions to society. He organized food
delivery systems at regiments, prisons and other public establishments.
Henrik also started low-prize restaurants in Stockholm in order
to provide good food to poor people. Henrik also initiated ways
to create better social security for craftsmen who had lost
their income because of illness.
Henrik och Jeanette had four children. Oscar (1825-1902), the
twins Daniel (1827-1870) and Frans (1827-1898) and Emma (1829-1916).
Daniel was the only one who married.
All members of the family are descendants from him and his wife
Emilie.
Henrik
had good relations with the royal family. The crown prince Oscar,
later king Oscar I, was
Godfather to Henrik's oldest son.
All three boys were christened at the Stockholm Cathedral in
1827.
Oscar moved as a young man to Marseilles where
he became successful as an importer of woodproducts. He was
interested in art and procured an important collection of French
paintings, which he bequeathed to the National Museum in Stockholm.
Picture of Oscar
Frans
became an architect and worked intensively for a few years on
the Swedish west coast. Many of the buildings he designed are
still there. Picture
of Frans
The
crown prince Oscar's Godfathership meant a possibility for Oscar
to join the military school at Karlberg Castle in Stockholm.
This opportunity was given to
Daniel, who became a naval officer. His career
was not only in the navy but also involved commercial shipping.
Emma was sent to relatives in Hamburg after
her mother's death. Later she returned to Sweden and lived for
many years with Daniel's widow.
