The man behind Chas. Hude
Chas. Hude's founder, Charles Christian von der Hude, was born in 1871 in Copenhagen. Charles was the son of a chemist and intended to follow an academic career. He was not academically minded however and dropped out of high school. After two years as an apprentice, he completed a three-year engineering degree in England. Having worked in a few engineering jobs in private companies, Chas. Hude embarked on a life-long career as a patent attorney.
Skandinavisk Patentbureau
On 5 January 1896, Chas. Hude founded his own company – Skandinavisk Patentbureau. In the beginning, he had to supplement his income with a second job as a journalist, but after a few years the company became viable; not least because of Charles’ dynamic, energetic and extrovert personality.
Chas. Hude over time
In the 1920s, Skandinavisk Patentbureau changed its name to Chas. Hude. In 1941, Charles’ son – engineer Harry von der Hude – and civil engineer Knud Nørgaard became part of the company's group and owners. Harry von der Hude was co-owner of the company until 1976, after which the company has been owned by a changing number of partners with Knud Nørgaard's twin sons, Ulrik and Tage Nørgaard at the helm.