In 1784, Paul Løwenørn was appointed head of the Danish Nautical Chart Archive. He began an extensive mapping of the Danish-Norwegian Waterways and argued the need for better navigation aids. He referred naturally to the Twin Lighthouses at Lindesnes.
In 1797, Løwenørn suggested,” out of benevolence towards the seafarers”, that a tower be raised at Lindesnes to establish a proper daytime navigation aid at this all-important landmark. The Scottish master mason George Johnstone was engaged to do the work. He resided in Mandal from 1766 until about 1800.
The tower was ”9 alen per square, 10 alen tall and built in a particular Sottish stone”. The lower level included a coal storage, and the 2nd level a walled watch room. The coal-fire basket was placed on top of the roof.
Even though the light was 10 alen higher up, the first tower was foremost an important daytime navigation aid and landmark.
The tower was finished in 1799, at the same time as Jakob Baden was appointed the lighthouse inspector at “the Naize”.
Paul Løwenørn worked tirelessly improving the navigation aids along the Danish and Norwegian coasts.