Matthias Petersen
Encyclopedia
Matthias Petersen was a sea captain
and whaler
from Oldsum
on the North Frisia
n island of Föhr
. He became known for catching 373 whales throughout his career.
and also took lessons in navigation. In the course of his travels he also changed his name to Matthias Petersen.
Known as "Glücklicher Matthias", "Matthias der Glückliche" or "Mathis der Glückliche", all of which translate to "Lucky Mathew", he became eventually famous by catching a total of 373 whales within five decades and for gathering great riches thereby. And that was, as his tomb in the graveyard of St. Lawrence's church in Süderende
testifies, the reason why he "with everybody's approbation accepted the surname of Lucky".
The exploit of 373 caught whales was only possible since Petersen still participated in the so called "bay fishery". At the time, the whalers would encounter great numbers of whales in the bays of Spitsbergen
, so the catch for a successful return could quickly be made. Petersen also acquired his legendary catches due to his long experience as a navigator. Aged only 20, he had been made commander of a whaling vessel and for fifty years in total he would keep that occupation. As a result he also made a financial fortune. During 19 voyages as a commander, Petersen acquired a total income of €
577,800 converted, which was a valuable asset given the circumstances of the time.
In 1677, Petersen and his brother donated two great brass
chandelier
s to the St. Laurentii parish which are still in use today in the church of St. Lawrence.
At the beginning of the Spanish War of Succession in 1701 Petersen's eldest son Matz, who was a commander as well, was abducted to St. Malo by a French privateer
but was later released for ransom. On his last voyage in 1702 Petersen himself was caught when his ship was seized by a French privateer. He and his crew were only released after paying a ransom of 8,000 Reichsthaler
s. In the same year, his sons Ock and John would fall in battle with a French pirate.
Matthias Petersen died in 1706 on his native island Föhr. His tombstone displays a vita in Latin and a coat of arms with the goddess of fortune and a whale.
and presumably it was him who wrote the Latin text for the inscription on his father's tomb.
Another son, Peter Matthiesen, studied at the Latin School
of Husum and the University of Jena. He became bailiff
of Eastern Föhr, Wyk auf Föhr
and even Sylt
at the same time.
His son, also a Peter Matthiesen, later became bailiff of Eastern Föhr and bailiff in the district of Western Föhr and Amrum
. By Count Struensee, a university companion, Mathiessen, Jr. was made mayor of Copenhagen
in 1771. After Struensee's execution for treason he remained influential and became director of the trade and fisheries school in the then-time Danish town of Altona
. From there, he helped to convey posts in the Greenland trade to many seafarers from Föhr.
One great-great-grandson of Matthias Petersen, Jens Jacob Eschels
from Nieblum
on Föhr, became known by writing a detailed autobiography of his own exploits as a whaler and merchant captain.
It is a lesser known fact that Matthias Petersen bequeathed 100 gold florins to the church which were not paid out by his heirs. After many years of quarreling, the parish eventually decided to move Petersen's tomb, which had been installed inside the church amid great pomp 14 years prior, out into the graveyard where it still can be seen today.
Captain (nautical)
A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag...
and whaler
History of whaling
The history of whaling is very extensive, stretching back for millennia. This article discusses the history of whaling up to the commencement of the International Whaling Commission moratorium on commercial whaling in 1986....
from Oldsum
Oldsum
Oldsum is a municipality on the island of Föhr, in the district of Nordfriesland, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.-Geography:...
on the North Frisia
North Frisia
North Frisia or Northern Friesland is the northernmost portion of Frisia, located primarily in Germany between the rivers Eider and Wiedau/Vidå. It includes a number of islands, e.g., Sylt, Föhr, Amrum, Nordstrand, and Heligoland.-History:...
n island of Föhr
Föhr
Föhr is one of the North Frisian Islands on the German coast of the North Sea. It is part of the Nordfriesland district in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein. Föhr is the second-largest North Sea island of Germany....
. He became known for catching 373 whales throughout his career.
Life
He was born as Matz Peters to a certain Peter Johnen (1595-1643) on Christmas Eve of 1632; his two older brothers were Jens (1627-1697) and Peter (1629-1678). He also had a younger brother John (or Jon) (1641-1691) and two younger sisters Thur and Jong Thur. As was the custom on the Frisian islands at the time, Peters left his home as a young boy of about 12 years to participate in the newly flourishing whaling business in the NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and also took lessons in navigation. In the course of his travels he also changed his name to Matthias Petersen.
Known as "Glücklicher Matthias", "Matthias der Glückliche" or "Mathis der Glückliche", all of which translate to "Lucky Mathew", he became eventually famous by catching a total of 373 whales within five decades and for gathering great riches thereby. And that was, as his tomb in the graveyard of St. Lawrence's church in Süderende
Süderende
Süderende is a municipality on the island of Föhr in the district of Nordfriesland, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.-History:The place used to belong to Oldsum, being its southern edge...
testifies, the reason why he "with everybody's approbation accepted the surname of Lucky".
The exploit of 373 caught whales was only possible since Petersen still participated in the so called "bay fishery". At the time, the whalers would encounter great numbers of whales in the bays of Spitsbergen
Spitsbergen
Spitsbergen is the largest and only permanently populated island of the Svalbard archipelago in Norway. Constituting the western-most bulk of the archipelago, it borders the Arctic Ocean, the Norwegian Sea and the Greenland Sea...
, so the catch for a successful return could quickly be made. Petersen also acquired his legendary catches due to his long experience as a navigator. Aged only 20, he had been made commander of a whaling vessel and for fifty years in total he would keep that occupation. As a result he also made a financial fortune. During 19 voyages as a commander, Petersen acquired a total income of €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
577,800 converted, which was a valuable asset given the circumstances of the time.
In 1677, Petersen and his brother donated two great brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
chandelier
Chandelier
A chandelier is a branched decorative ceiling-mounted light fixture with two or more arms bearing lights. Chandeliers are often ornate, containing dozens of lamps and complex arrays of glass or crystal prisms to illuminate a room with refracted light...
s to the St. Laurentii parish which are still in use today in the church of St. Lawrence.
At the beginning of the Spanish War of Succession in 1701 Petersen's eldest son Matz, who was a commander as well, was abducted to St. Malo by a French privateer
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
but was later released for ransom. On his last voyage in 1702 Petersen himself was caught when his ship was seized by a French privateer. He and his crew were only released after paying a ransom of 8,000 Reichsthaler
Reichsthaler
The Reichsthaler was a standard Thaler of the Holy Roman Empire, established in 1566 by the Leipzig convention. It was also the name of a unit of account in northern Germany and of a silver coin issued by Prussia.-Reichsthaler coin:...
s. In the same year, his sons Ock and John would fall in battle with a French pirate.
Matthias Petersen died in 1706 on his native island Föhr. His tombstone displays a vita in Latin and a coat of arms with the goddess of fortune and a whale.
Offspring
Matthias Petersen had his children homeschooled by a private teacher. So his sons were able to study at a university. Clement became a preacher in SchwesingSchwesing
Schwesing is a municipality in the district of Nordfriesland, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.-History:From September 25, 1944 until December 11, 1944 a concentration camp was established near Glasau. It was a subcamp to the Neuengamme concentration camp....
and presumably it was him who wrote the Latin text for the inscription on his father's tomb.
Another son, Peter Matthiesen, studied at the Latin School
Latin School
Latin School may refer to:* Latin schools of Medieval Europe* These schools in the United States:** Boston Latin School, Boston, MA** Brooklyn Latin School, New York, NY** Brother Joseph C. Fox Latin School, Long Island, NY...
of Husum and the University of Jena. He became bailiff
Bailiff
A bailiff is a governor or custodian ; a legal officer to whom some degree of authority, care or jurisdiction is committed...
of Eastern Föhr, Wyk auf Föhr
Wyk auf Föhr
Wyk auf Föhr is the only town on Föhr, the second largest of the North Frisian Islands on the German coast of the North Sea. Like the entire island it belongs to the district of Nordfriesland...
and even Sylt
Sylt
Sylt is an island in northern Germany, part of Nordfriesland district, Schleswig-Holstein, and well known for the distinctive shape of its shoreline. It belongs to the North Frisian Islands and is the largest island in North Frisia...
at the same time.
His son, also a Peter Matthiesen, later became bailiff of Eastern Föhr and bailiff in the district of Western Föhr and Amrum
Amrum
Amrum is one of the North Frisian Islands on the German North Sea coast, south of Sylt and west of Föhr. It is part of the Nordfriesland district in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein...
. By Count Struensee, a university companion, Mathiessen, Jr. was made mayor of Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
in 1771. After Struensee's execution for treason he remained influential and became director of the trade and fisheries school in the then-time Danish town of Altona
Altona, Hamburg
Altona is the westernmost urban borough of the German city state of Hamburg, on the right bank of the Elbe river. From 1640 to 1864 Altona was under the administration of the Danish monarchy. Altona was an independent city until 1937...
. From there, he helped to convey posts in the Greenland trade to many seafarers from Föhr.
One great-great-grandson of Matthias Petersen, Jens Jacob Eschels
Jens Jacob Eschels
Jens Jacob Eschels was a nautical captain and is the author of the oldest known captain's autobiography in German.-Life:...
from Nieblum
Nieblum
Nieblum is a municipality on the island of Föhr, in the district of Nordfriesland, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.-Geography:...
on Föhr, became known by writing a detailed autobiography of his own exploits as a whaler and merchant captain.
It is a lesser known fact that Matthias Petersen bequeathed 100 gold florins to the church which were not paid out by his heirs. After many years of quarreling, the parish eventually decided to move Petersen's tomb, which had been installed inside the church amid great pomp 14 years prior, out into the graveyard where it still can be seen today.