The Museum of National History =In the 1850s Frederik VII often used Frederiksborg Castle as a royal residence. The old castle had not been properly maintained, and fire broke out during the night of 16/17 December 1859. It started in one of the newly installed fireplaces in the third floor and spread rapidly. The greater part of the interior of the Castle was destroyed. The Privy Passage and the Audience House escaped the flames. Several of the big ceiling vaults in the Chapel collapsed, but the rest of the building was saved. The fire was a disaster. Frederiksborg Castle was regarded at the time as a national monument, and during the days that followed a spontaneous, nation-wide collection was initiated with the aim of financing the restoration of the Castle. The founder of the Carlsberg Breweries, J. C. Jacobsen, was among the first contributors and proved to be of great importance to the castle's future use. In 1877 he proposed that a museum of national history be established at Frederiksborg Castle along the lines of those at Versailles in France and Gripsholm in Sweden. His aim was to stimulate the self-confidence and national loyalty of the Danes during the period after the loss of the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein in 1864. On 5 April 1878 Christian IX issued a royal decree whereby the Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Castle became and independent department of the Carlsberg Foundation.