List of Governors of the Danish West Indies
Encyclopedia
Governors of St. Thomas
St. ThomasSaint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint Thomas is an island in the Caribbean Sea and with the islands of Saint John, Saint Croix, and Water Island a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands , an unincorporated territory of the United States. Located on the island is the territorial capital and port of...
was claimed by the Danish West India Company
Danish West India Company
The Danish West India Company or Danish West India-Guinea Company was a Danish chartered company that exploited colonies in the Danish West Indies. It was founded as the Danish Africa Company in 1659 in Glückstadt by a German Hendrik Carloff and two Dutchmen Isaac Coymans and Nicolaes Pancras....
in 1672.
- Jørgen Iversen DyppelJørgen Iversen DyppelJørgen Iversen Dyppel , also called George Iversen or Ifversen, or sometimes Doppel in Knox, was the first governor of St. Thomas in the Danish West Indies, from 1672 to 1680...
, Governor of St. Thomas (May 25, 1672 - July 4, 1680) - Nicolai EsmitNicolai EsmitNicolai Esmit was governor of St. Thomas in the Danish West Indies from 4 July 1680 - November 1682. He was born in Holstein. His younger brother Adolph Esmit succeeded him as governor of St. Thomas.-Biography:According to Dansk Biografisk Lexikon, Esmit served under England on Jamaica after...
, Governor of St. Thomas (July 4, 1680 - November, 1682) - Adolph EsmitAdolph EsmitAdolph Esmit was governor of St. Thomas in the Danish West Indies from 1683 to 1684, and again from 1687 to 1688. He was born in Holstein. His older brother Nicolai Esmit preceded him as governor of St. Thomas.-Biography:...
, Governor of St. Thomas (November, 1682 - May 7, 1684)
Governors of St. Thomas & St. John
St. JohnSaint John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint John is an island in the Caribbean Sea and a constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands , an unincorporated territory of the United States. St...
(St. Jan) was claimed by Danish West India Company
Danish West India Company
The Danish West India Company or Danish West India-Guinea Company was a Danish chartered company that exploited colonies in the Danish West Indies. It was founded as the Danish Africa Company in 1659 in Glückstadt by a German Hendrik Carloff and two Dutchmen Isaac Coymans and Nicolaes Pancras....
in 1683, which was disputed by the British until 1718.
- Gabriel MilanGabriel MilanGabriel Milan was Jewish governor of the Danish West Indies from 7 May 1684 to 27 February 1686. Though he mainly went by the name of 'Gabriel Milan', he identified himself as Don Franco de Tebary Cordova in his correspondence with King Frederick III of Denmark...
, (May 7, 1684 - February 27, 1686) - Mikkel MikkelsenMikkel MikkelsenMikkel Mikkelsen was a Fiscal and Governor-General ad interim of St. Thomas in the Danish West Indies, from 27 February 1686 to 29 June 1686...
, interim (February 27, 1686 - June 29, 1686) - Christopher HeinsChristopher HeinsChristopher Heins was a lieutenant and interim Governor-General of The Danish West Indies during two short periods, respectively 29 June 1686 to March 1687 and from October 1688 to 1689...
, (June 29, 1686 - March, 1687) - Adolph Esmit, second reign, interim (March, 1687 - October, 1688)
- Christopher Heins, second reign (October, 1688 - October, 1689)
- Johan Lorensen, (October, 1689 - September 17, 1692)
- Frans de la Vigne, (September 17, 1692 - April 7, 1693)
- Johan Lorensen, second reign (April 7, 1693 - February 19, 1702)
- Claus HansenClaus HansenClaus Hansen was Governor of the Danish West Indies from February 19, 1702 until his death.Hansen started his career in the West Indies as one of the soldiers brought by Jørgen Thormøhlen on the latters lesseeship in 1690...
, (February 19, 1702 - February 8, 1706) - Joachim Melchior von Holten, (February 8, 1706 - December 21, 1708)
- Diderich Mogensen, interim (December 21, 1708 - 1710)
- Mikkel Knudsen Crone, (1710 - August 8, 1716)
- Erich Bredal, (August 8, 1716 - April, 1724) - during whose reign St. John was occupied
- Friderich Moth, (April, 1724 - May, 1727)
- Hendrich von Suhm, (May, 1727 - February 21, 1733)
- Phillip Gardelin, (February 21, 1733 - February 21, 1736) - during whose reign there was a slave rebellion
- Friderich Moth, second reign (February 21, 1736 - April 13, 1744) - also governor of St. Croix (see below)
- Jacob Schönemann, (1740 - 1744)
- Christian von Schweder, (April 13, 1744 - April 25, 1747)
- Christian Suhm, (April 25, 1747 - 1758)
Governors of St. Croix
St. CroixSaint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint Croix is an island in the Caribbean Sea, and a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands , an unincorporated territory of the United States. Formerly the Danish West Indies, they were sold to the United States by Denmark in the Treaty of the Danish West Indies of...
was bought from French West India Company
French West India Company
In the history of French trade, the French West India Company was a chartered company established in 1664. Their charter gave them the property and seignory of Canada, Acadia, the Antilles, Cayenne, and the terra firma of South America, from the Amazon to the Orinoco...
in 1733.
- Friderich Moth, Governor of St. Croix (January 8, 1735 - May 15, 1747)
- Gregers Høg Nissen, Chief ad interim of St. Croix (February 24, 1736 - April 16, 1744)
- Paul Lindemark, Chief ad interim of St. Croix (April 16, 1744 - May 15, 1747)
- Jens Hansen, Governor of St. Croix (May 15, 1747 - December, 1751)
- Peter Clausen, Governor of St. Croix (December, 1751 - 1758)
In 1754, the Danish West Indies were sold by Danish West India Company to King Frederick V of Denmark
Frederick V of Denmark
Frederick V was king of Denmark and Norway from 1746, son of Christian VI of Denmark and Sophia Magdalen of Brandenburg-Kulmbach.-Early life:...
, becoming royal Danish colonies. Hereafter, St. Croix was governed by the Governors-General of the Danish West Indies.
Governors of the royal colonies
- Christian Leberecht von Prøck, Governor-GeneralGovernor-GeneralA Governor-General, is a vice-regal person of a monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a Governor General can be a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.- Current uses...
of St. Thomas & St. John l (1756 - 1766), from 1758 also St. Croix.- Harrien Felschauer, Governor of St. Thomas & St. John (1758 - 1760)
- Johan Georg von John, Governor of St. Thomas & St. John (1760 - April, 1764)
- Ditlev Wilhelm Wildthagen, Governor of St. Thomas & St. John (April, 1764 - November, 1764)
- Peter Gynthelberg, Governor of St. Thomas & St. John (November, 1764 - 1765)
- Ulrich Wilhelm Roepstorff, Governor of St. Thomas & St. John (1765 - 1766)
- Peter Clausen, Governor-General (1766 - 1771)
- Jens Nielsen Kragh, Governor of St. Thomas, St. John (1766 - 1773)
- Frederik Moth, Governor-General (1770 - 1772)
- Ulrich Wilhelm von Roepstorff, Governor-General (1772 - 1773)
- Henrik Ludvig Ernst von Schimmelmann, Governor-General (July, 1773 - October, 1773)
- Thomas de Malleville, Governor of St. Thomas, St. John (1773 - 1796) - later Governor-General (see below)
- Peter Clausen, Governor-General (October, 1773 - 1784)
- Henrik Ludvig Ernst von Schimmelmann, Governor-General, second reign (1784 - 1787)
- Ernst Frederik von Walterstorff, Governor-General (1787 - 1794)
- Wilhelm Anton Lindemann, Governor-General (1794 - 1796)
- Thomas de Malleville, Governor-General (1796 - 1799)
- Balthazar Frederik Mühlenfels, Governor of St. Thomas, St. John (1796 - 1800)
- Wilhelm Anton Lindemann, Governor-General, second reign (1799 - March 31, 1801)
- Casimir Wilhelm von Scholten, Governor of St. Thomas, St. John (1800 - March, 1801)
- John Clayton CowellJohn Clayton CowellMajor-General Sir John Clayton Cowell PC KCB was a British Army officer and later Master of the Queen's Household and Governor of Windsor Castle.-Early life:...
, Governor of St. Thomas, St. John (March 31, 1801 - March 27, 1802) - BritishGreat BritainGreat Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
occupation
- Ernst Frederik von Walterstorff, Governor-General, second reign (February 16, 1802 - October 27, 1802)
- Baltharzar Frederik Mühlenfels, Governor-General (October 27, 1802 - 1807)
- Willum von Rømeling, Governor of St. Thomas, St. John (March 27, 1802 - 1803)
- Casimir Wilhelm von Scholten, Governor of St. Thomas, St. John, second reign (1803 - December, 1807)
- Hans Christopher Lillienskjøld, Governor-General (March, 1807 - December, 1807)
- Henry BowyerHenry BowyerHenry Bowyer was a British politician.He was elected as the Member of Parliament for Abingdon at a by-election in December 1809, following the death of George Knapp. He held the seat for less than two years until his resignation in June 1811 by appointment as Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds.-...
, Governor-General (December, 1807 - 1808)- Governor McLean, Governor of St. Thomas, St. John (December, 1807 - November 20, 1815) - BritishGreat BritainGreat Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
occupation
- Governor McLean, Governor of St. Thomas, St. John (December, 1807 - November 20, 1815) - British
- Peter Lotharius von Oxholm, Governor-General (1815 - 1816)
- Christian Ludvig von Holten, Governor of St. Thomas, St. John (November 20, 1815 - 1818)
- Johan Henrik von Stabel, Governor-General (May, 1816 - July, 1816)
- Adrian Benjamin BentzonAdrian Benjamin BentzonAdrian Benjamin Bentzon was Governor of the Danish West Indies 1816 - 1820.He was born in Tønsberg. He graduated from Bergens Latinskole in 1793 and took his legal exams in 1798. He was later adjunct and notary of the legal faculty. In 1814 he became part of the government of the Danish West...
, Governor-General (1816 - 1820)- Peter Carl Frederik von ScholtenPeter von ScholtenPeter Carl Frederik von Scholten was Governor-General of the Danish West Indies from 1827 to 1848. He was born in Vestervig, Thy, Denmark as the son of captain Casimir von Scholten and Catharina Elisabeth de Moldrup....
, Governor of St. Thomas, St. John (1818 - 1820), later Governor-General (see below)
- Peter Carl Frederik von Scholten
- Carl Adolph RotheCarl Adolph RotheCarl Adolph Rote was a naval officer in the Danish navy and governor of the Danish West Indies from 1820 to 1822.-Biography:...
, Governor-General (1820 - 1822)- Christian Ludvig von Holten, Governor of St. Thomas, St. John, second reign (February, 1920 - March, 1820)
- Peter Carl Frederik von Scholten, Governor of St. Thomas, St. John, second reign (April, 1820 - July, 1820)
- Carl Gottlieb Fleischer, Governor of St. Thomas, St. John (1820 - 1822)
- Johan Frederik Bardenfleth, Governor-General (1822 - 1827)
- Carl Wilhelm JessenCarl Wilhelm JessenThis article contains material translated from the Danish article: Carl Wilhelm JessenCarl Wilhelm Jessen was a Danish naval officer and Governor of St Thomas in the Danish West Indies.-Career:...
, Governor of St. Thomas, St. John (1822 - 1823) - Peter Carl Frederik von Scholten, Governor of St. Thomas, St. John, third reign (1823 - 1826)
- Johannes Söbötker, Governor of St. Thomas, St. John (1826 - 1829)
- Carl Wilhelm Jessen
- Peter Carl Frederik von ScholtenPeter von ScholtenPeter Carl Frederik von Scholten was Governor-General of the Danish West Indies from 1827 to 1848. He was born in Vestervig, Thy, Denmark as the son of captain Casimir von Scholten and Catharina Elisabeth de Moldrup....
, Governor-General (1827 - July, 1848)- Frederik Ludvig Christian Pentz Rosenørn, Governor of St. Thomas, St. John (1829 - 1834)
- Frederik von Oxholm, Governor of St. Thomas, St. John (1834 - 1836)
- Johannes Söbötker, Governor of St. Thomas, St. John, second reign (1836 - 1848)
- Frederik von Oxholm (acting), Governor-General (July, 1848 - November, 1848)
- Hans Hendrik Berg, Governor of St. Thomas, St. John (1848)
- Peder Hansen, Government Commissioner (November, 1848 - 1851)
- Frederik von Oxholm, Governor of St. Thomas, St. John, second reign (1848 - 1852)
- Hans Ditmar Frederik Feddersen, Governor-General (1851 - 1855)
- Hans Hendrik Berg, Governor of St. Thomas, St. John, second reign (1853 - 1862)
- Johan Frederik SchlegelJohan Frederik SchlegelJohan Frederik Schlegel was a lawyer and civil servant who married Regine Olsen. He was Governor-General of the Danish West Indies from 1855 to 1860, and Gehejmekonferensraad from 1860.- Bibliography :...
, Governor-General (1855 - 1861) - Vilhelm Ludvig Birch, Governor-General (1861 - 1871)
- John Christmas, Governor-General (February, 1871 - June, 1871)
- Frantz Ernst Bille, acting Governor-General (June, 1871 - July, 1872)
- Johan August Stakeman, acting Governor-General (July, 1872 - September, 1872)
- Janus August Garde, Governor-General (September, 1872 - 1881)
- Christian Henrik ArendrupChristian Henrik ArendrupChristian Henrik Arendrup was Governor-General of The Danish West Indies, from 1881 to 1893. Arendrup was born in Frederikshavn as the son of Christian Rasmus Arendrup, councillor of Fyens Stift, and Nanna Marie Henne, the daughter of a marine Commander.In 1856, Arendrup graduated from Sorø...
, Governor-General (1881 - 1893) - Carl Emil Hedemann, Governor-General (1893 - 1903)
- Herman August Jürs, Governor-General (1903 - 1904)
- Frederik Theodor Martin Mortensen Nordlien, Governor-General (1904 -1905)
- Christian Magdalus Thestrup Cold, Governor-General (1905 - 1908)
- Peter Carl Limpricht, Governor-General (1908 - 1911)
- Lars Christian Helweg-Larsen, Governor-General (1911 - October 3, 1916)
- Henri KonowHenri KonowHenri Konow was an officer in the Danish navy, and the last governor of the Danish West Indies, overseeing the transfer of administration to the United States of America...
, acting Governor-General (October 3, 1916 - March 31, 1917)
The Danish West Indies was sold by the Danish state to the United States of America on December 12, 1916. The administration was officially turned over on March 31, 1917, and the first US governor was Edwin Taylor Pollock
Edwin Taylor Pollock
Edwin Taylor Pollock was a career officer in the United States Navy, serving in both the Spanish-American War and World War I. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of captain. Like many naval officers, his name was often abbreviated using initials: Pollock.As a young ensign, Pollock served...
, see List of United States Virgin Islands Governors.