The article describes the life story of Jurij Vertaš, who lived in the mid-17th Century and was at first a pedlar, then a merchant, and later on a judge and a mayor, positions in which his social status rose dramatically. Finally, he acquired the status he had aspired to and became a nobleman. In many aspects, his career was similar to the careers of other capable individuale of the time. His career, however, is particularly important because he was the grandfather of the first wife of Janez Vajkard Valvasor, the famous historian of Carniola. The noble Scharffenegk bequeathed part of his wealth to his granddaughter - this fact is of great importance to Valvasor's work.