Jørgen Conrad de Falsen
Encyclopedia
Jørgen Conrad de Falsen was a Danish naval officer who, despite being plagued by ill health, saw duty throughout the Gunboat War
with Britain during the Napoleonic Wars, and who rose eventually to the rank of rear admiral. He married twice, the second marriage being to a lady-in-waiting to the Danish Queen.
(1755 - 1808) married Anna Henrikka Petronelle Mathiesen (1762–1825) in 1781. They had 7 children, including the statesman Christian Magnus Falsen
(1782–1830) and the county governor Carl Valentin de Falsen (1787–1852). Their fourth child, Jørgen Conrad de Falsen was born on 19 August 1785 in Kristiania (now Oslo
).
In April and May 1807 he was first officer on board the frigate Triton, and later in 1807 in charge of troop transports bringing Danish soldiers from Femern to Lolland around the British blockade. Later the same year, he was promoted to senior lieutenant.
In 1808 and early 1809 he was stationed on the Scheldt, where Danes crewed and officered Pultusk (or Pulstuck) and Dantzick, two French ships-of-the-line. When the Danish captains were replaced on 28 January 1809 with French ones, Falsen and fellow officer Senior Lieutenant Frederick Christian Holsten resigned in protest and refused to obey orders, so they were arrested and sent to Frederickshavn Citadel to serve a six month detention.
, but in August was ordered from Nyborg
to Fladstrand
. Whilst travelling to his new post, he injured his knee in a cart accident, so P. M. Tuxen took command at Fladstrand.
Falsen's organisation of naval aspects of the abortive 1810 expedition to Anholt
in February and March of that year failed due to short notice, winter leave for the gunboat crews, ice and storm; Falsen sought to exonerate himself in a report to the Danish king
. After this he was posted to Fladstrand under the command of Lieutenant P. M. Tuxen.
In a heavy exchange of fire lasting some ninety minutes, Falsen’s flotilla of four gunboats severely damaged a frigate of 32 guns on 27 April 1810 off Skagen
(The Skaw).
On 12 September 1810 off Læsø
, Falsen captured , which the Danes took into service as The Alban. In early 1811, now the officer commanding Fladstrand and Hals flotilla, Falsen was paid 10,000 rigsdollar prize money.
During the Battle of Anholt
on 23 March 1811, Falsen was in command. The most senior army officer in the attack, Major Melsted, was killed during the battle. Lieutenant Falsen was captured but exchanged on 8 April 1811 for British prisoners and landed in Jutland.
On 4/5 July Falsen’s flotilla attacked a British convoy near Hjelm
. During the engagement Falsen was wounded when captured his vessel, Gunboat No 2. Again, he was exchanged a few days later.
In November 1811 Falsen was off sick due to his battle wounds worsening, but on 19 August 1812 he was again involved in an action when he captured the brig off Grenå
.
, which he had bought in 1845.It is now the site of an open prison. He is buried at the Danish Naval Church på Holmen
in Copenhagen.
Gunboat War
The Gunboat War was the naval conflict between Denmark–Norway and the British Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. The war's name is derived from the Danish tactic of employing small gunboats against the conventional Royal Navy...
with Britain during the Napoleonic Wars, and who rose eventually to the rank of rear admiral. He married twice, the second marriage being to a lady-in-waiting to the Danish Queen.
Family
His father, Enevold de FalsenEnevold De Falsen
Enevold de Falsen was a Danish-Norwegian lawyer, poet, actor and statesman.-Family:The family 'de Falsen' has been extensively documented...
(1755 - 1808) married Anna Henrikka Petronelle Mathiesen (1762–1825) in 1781. They had 7 children, including the statesman Christian Magnus Falsen
Christian Magnus Falsen
Christian Magnus Falsen was a Norwegian constitutional father, statesman, jurist, and historian. He was an important member of the constitutional assembly and was one of the writers of the constitutional laws....
(1782–1830) and the county governor Carl Valentin de Falsen (1787–1852). Their fourth child, Jørgen Conrad de Falsen was born on 19 August 1785 in Kristiania (now Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
).
Early career
de Falsen joined the Danish-Norwegian navy as a volunteer cadet in 1797, becoming a midshipman in 1798 and acting lieutenant in 1801. Promoted to junior lieutenant in 1802, he served in Fredericksteen on a cruise to the Danish West Indies in 1802 -1803. Returning in poor health, he was granted six months sick leave – extended to nine months – before resuming duties and in 1805 going to the Danish West Indies again in the frigate Diane, a voyage followed by another extended period of leave.In April and May 1807 he was first officer on board the frigate Triton, and later in 1807 in charge of troop transports bringing Danish soldiers from Femern to Lolland around the British blockade. Later the same year, he was promoted to senior lieutenant.
In 1808 and early 1809 he was stationed on the Scheldt, where Danes crewed and officered Pultusk (or Pulstuck) and Dantzick, two French ships-of-the-line. When the Danish captains were replaced on 28 January 1809 with French ones, Falsen and fellow officer Senior Lieutenant Frederick Christian Holsten resigned in protest and refused to obey orders, so they were arrested and sent to Frederickshavn Citadel to serve a six month detention.
Gunboats and Anholt
In July 1809 Falsen was posted to a gunboat flotilla in the Great BeltGreat Belt
The Great Belt is a strait between the main Danish islands of Zealand and Funen . Effectively dividing Denmark in two, the Belt was served by the Great Belt ferries from the late 19th century until the islands were connected by the Great Belt Fixed Link in 1997–98.-Geography:The Great Belt is the...
, but in August was ordered from Nyborg
Nyborg
Nyborg is a city in central Denmark, located in Nyborg Municipality on the island of Funen and with a population of 16,492 . Nyborg is one of the 14 large municipalities created on 1 January 2007...
to Fladstrand
Frederikshavn
This article is about a Danish town. For the German town, see Friedrichshafen, and for the Finnish town, see Fredrikshamn .Frederikshavn is a Danish town in Frederikshavn municipality, Region Nordjylland on the northeast coast of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark. Its name translates to...
. Whilst travelling to his new post, he injured his knee in a cart accident, so P. M. Tuxen took command at Fladstrand.
Falsen's organisation of naval aspects of the abortive 1810 expedition to Anholt
Anholt (Denmark)
Anholt is a Danish island in the Kattegat, midway between Jutland and Sweden, with 171 permanent residents as of 1 January 2010. It is seven miles long and about four miles wide at its widest and covers an area of 21,75 km². Anholt is part of Norddjurs municipality in Region Midtjylland...
in February and March of that year failed due to short notice, winter leave for the gunboat crews, ice and storm; Falsen sought to exonerate himself in a report to the Danish king
Frederick VI of Denmark
Frederick VI reigned as King of Denmark , and as king of Norway .-Regent of Denmark:Frederick's parents were King Christian VII and Caroline Matilda of Wales...
. After this he was posted to Fladstrand under the command of Lieutenant P. M. Tuxen.
In a heavy exchange of fire lasting some ninety minutes, Falsen’s flotilla of four gunboats severely damaged a frigate of 32 guns on 27 April 1810 off Skagen
Skagen
Skagen is a projection of land and a town, with a population of 8,515 , in Region Nordjylland on the northernmost tip of Vendsyssel-Thy, a part of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark...
(The Skaw).
On 12 September 1810 off Læsø
Læsø
Læsø is the largest island in the North Sea bay of Kattegat, and is located off the northeast coast of the Jutland Peninsula, the Danish mainland. Læsø is also the name of the municipality on that island...
, Falsen captured , which the Danes took into service as The Alban. In early 1811, now the officer commanding Fladstrand and Hals flotilla, Falsen was paid 10,000 rigsdollar prize money.
During the Battle of Anholt
Battle of Anholt
The Battle of Anholt occurred during the Gunboat War, a war between the United Kingdom and Denmark-Norway. It was an attempt by the Danes to recapture Anholt, a small Danish island off the coast of Jutland, which the British had captured in 1809...
on 23 March 1811, Falsen was in command. The most senior army officer in the attack, Major Melsted, was killed during the battle. Lieutenant Falsen was captured but exchanged on 8 April 1811 for British prisoners and landed in Jutland.
On 4/5 July Falsen’s flotilla attacked a British convoy near Hjelm
Hjelm (island)
Hjelm is a small Danish island located in the Kattegat south-east from Ebeltoft....
. During the engagement Falsen was wounded when captured his vessel, Gunboat No 2. Again, he was exchanged a few days later.
In November 1811 Falsen was off sick due to his battle wounds worsening, but on 19 August 1812 he was again involved in an action when he captured the brig off Grenå
Grenå
Grenaa or Grenå is a town in central Denmark with a population of 14,308 . The town centre is about 2 km west of the east coast of the Djursland peninsula in Jutland's Region Midtjylland...
.
Post-war
In the immediate post-war years de Falsen undertook several foreign study tours but his health was poor, and he was given extended leave on health grounds in 1835. He continued to suffer from liver disease and gallstones, but eventually retired as a rear-admiral in 1848.Marriage
Falsen's first marriage was to Cecilie Catharine Hoier in 1811. She died in 1817, and he married Jørgine Elisabeth Rosenkrantz on 9 November 1825. He had two sons, Enevold (1813-1867) and Niels.Death
Falsen died on 23 August 1849 on the estate of Søbysøgård on FunenFunen
Funen , with a size of 2,984 km² , is the third-largest island of Denmark following Zealand and Vendsyssel-Thy, and the 163rd largest island of the world. Funen is located in the central part of the country and has a population of 454,358 inhabitants . The main city is Odense, connected to the...
, which he had bought in 1845.It is now the site of an open prison. He is buried at the Danish Naval Church på Holmen
Church of Holmen
The Church of Holmen is a church in central Copenhagen in Denmark, on the street called Holmens Kanal. First built as an anchor forge in 1563, it was converted into a naval church by Christian IV. It is famous for having hosted the wedding between Margrethe II of Denmark, current queen of Denmark,...
in Copenhagen.