Ole Paus (23 March 1766 – 26 July 1855) was a Norwegian ship's captain, shipowner and land owner, who belonged to the patriciate of the port town of Skien from the late 18th century.

Through his marriage, Paus became the brother-in-law of shipowner Nicolay Plesner (1774–1842) and of Diderik von Cappelen, one of Norway's wealthiest men.

This tale must have been well known to Ibsen, and it no doubt influenced his epic poem "Terje Wigen," which has several similarities in that the main person is captured by the Royal Navy and kept prisoner.

In any case, Ole Paus must have been released by the end of 1809 at the latest because his son Christopher was born in October 1810.

[11][12] Ole Paus was portrayed by actor Per Theodor Haugen (1932–2018) in the 2006 NRK miniseries "An Immortal Man" (En udødelig mann).