Michael Bille
Encyclopedia
Disambiguation: See Steen Andersen Bille
for relationships to other naval officers in the family
Michael Bille (Michael John Petronius Bille) was a Danish-Norwegian, and Prussian naval officer born 8 November 1769 in Stege
on the Danish Island of Møn
into a naval family which had produced and would produce Danish admirals.
Michael was sailing on the Danish frigate Bornholm
(captained by his father) when it was caught in a hurricane off the Danish West Indies
Islands. After days of struggle, the ship ran aground off Newport, County Mayo
, Ireland on March 17, 1782. Mathias died in the affair. Bille became an officer in the Danish-Norwegian Navy
in 1789 and participated in the Battle of Copenhagen on 2 April 1801, where he commanded the lower battery of the Prøvesteenen which fired the first shot at the English.
Over fifteen years he also served as a teacher of mathematics and astronomy at the Seekadettenakademiet (Dansk Søværnets Officersskole).
From 1807-1811, he served as a captain stationed in Kristiansand
in charge of the gunboat squadron (Roflotillen). In 1812-1813 he commanded a French warship in the Scheldt
. From 1815 he served as pilot inspector in Helsingor until he entered Prussian service in 1820.
In 1821 he began a very fruitful career as director of the Prussian Navigationsschule
in Danzig. After three years he moved the school into a building that lay outside Danzig at the mouth of the Radaune River
because the St. Jacob Church was inadequate. The school was then assigned to the above-mentioned war schooner "Stralsund" commanded by Longé. From 1825 the school also had the gunboat "Danzig. Bille and the vessels were under the authority of the Ministry of War in Berlin. This may be seen as the beginning of the Prussian Navy
.
The number of students increased from 40 in 1827 to 115-120 in 1831.
He resigned from Prussian service 3 May 1838 because he had become a Rear Admiral the Danish Navy. He had performed excellently and was well remembered: “A better leader for this branch of navigation at that time would have been difficult can be found. The Danish origin was not an obstacle to him, his official duties with pleasure and zeal.”
As Rear Admiral from 1838 he busied himself with writing and research in natural sciences. In 1840 he published a book on navigation Tankar om och i navigationen. He died in Copenhagen March 27, 1845.
Steen Andersen Bille
The name of Steen Andersen Bille is closely associated with one extended family of Danish Naval Officers over four generations. Their relationships are as follows*Steen Andersen Bille Colonel and Vice-Commandant of Copenhagen....
for relationships to other naval officers in the family
Michael Bille (Michael John Petronius Bille) was a Danish-Norwegian, and Prussian naval officer born 8 November 1769 in Stege
Stege, Denmark
Stege is the largest town on the island of Møn in south-eastern Denmark. As of 2011, its population is 3,823. Stege is now part of Vordingborg Municipality and belongs to Region Zealand...
on the Danish Island of Møn
Møn
-Location:Møn is located just off the south-eastern tip of Zealand from which it is separated by the waters of the Hølen strait between Kalvehave and the island of Nyord, at the northern end of Møn. Further south is Stege Bugt...
into a naval family which had produced and would produce Danish admirals.
Michael was sailing on the Danish frigate Bornholm
Bornholm
Bornholm is a Danish island in the Baltic Sea located to the east of the rest of Denmark, the south of Sweden, and the north of Poland. The main industries on the island include fishing, arts and crafts like glass making and pottery using locally worked clay, and dairy farming. Tourism is...
(captained by his father) when it was caught in a hurricane off the Danish West Indies
Danish West Indies
The Danish West Indies or "Danish Antilles", were a colony of Denmark-Norway and later Denmark in the Caribbean. They were sold to the United States in 1916 in the Treaty of the Danish West Indies and became the United States Virgin Islands in 1917...
Islands. After days of struggle, the ship ran aground off Newport, County Mayo
Newport, County Mayo
Newport, historically known as Ballyveaghan , is a small picturesque town in the Barony of Burrishoole County Mayo, Ireland with a population of 590 in 2006. It is located on the west coast of Ireland, along the shore of Clew Bay, north of Westport. The N59 road passes through the town. The...
, Ireland on March 17, 1782. Mathias died in the affair. Bille became an officer in the Danish-Norwegian Navy
Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy
The Royal Danish-Norwegian Navy or The Common Fleet also known simply as the Danish Navy was the naval force of the united kingdoms Denmark and Norway from 1509 to 12 April 1814. The fleet was established when the Royal Danish Navy and the Royal Norwegian Navy was combined by King Hans, when he...
in 1789 and participated in the Battle of Copenhagen on 2 April 1801, where he commanded the lower battery of the Prøvesteenen which fired the first shot at the English.
Over fifteen years he also served as a teacher of mathematics and astronomy at the Seekadettenakademiet (Dansk Søværnets Officersskole).
From 1807-1811, he served as a captain stationed in Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
in charge of the gunboat squadron (Roflotillen). In 1812-1813 he commanded a French warship in the Scheldt
Scheldt
The Scheldt is a 350 km long river in northern France, western Belgium and the southwestern part of the Netherlands...
. From 1815 he served as pilot inspector in Helsingor until he entered Prussian service in 1820.
In 1821 he began a very fruitful career as director of the Prussian Navigationsschule
Prussian Naval Academy
The Prussian Naval Academy was the naval academy of the Prussian Navy-Foundation:The training of officers for the Prussian Navy started with the foundation of the Navigationsschulen in Danzig in 1817, although there were other similar schools in the first half of the nineteenth century at Memel,...
in Danzig. After three years he moved the school into a building that lay outside Danzig at the mouth of the Radaune River
Radunia
The Radunia is a small river in Kashubia which issues from a lake and falls into the Motława near Gdansk .A part of its water is conveyed into the city via the 13.5 km long Kanał Raduni / Radaunekanal or New Radaune or Radunia Channel, a canal built in 14th century by Teutonic Knights,...
because the St. Jacob Church was inadequate. The school was then assigned to the above-mentioned war schooner "Stralsund" commanded by Longé. From 1825 the school also had the gunboat "Danzig. Bille and the vessels were under the authority of the Ministry of War in Berlin. This may be seen as the beginning of the Prussian Navy
Prussian Navy
Throughout the centuries, Prussia’s military consistently concentrated on its land power, and never sought a similar power at sea. Yet historically there were always Prussian naval forces , beginning in the days when "Prussia" meant only the Margraviate of Brandenburg.- The Navy of Electoral...
.
The number of students increased from 40 in 1827 to 115-120 in 1831.
He resigned from Prussian service 3 May 1838 because he had become a Rear Admiral the Danish Navy. He had performed excellently and was well remembered: “A better leader for this branch of navigation at that time would have been difficult can be found. The Danish origin was not an obstacle to him, his official duties with pleasure and zeal.”
As Rear Admiral from 1838 he busied himself with writing and research in natural sciences. In 1840 he published a book on navigation Tankar om och i navigationen. He died in Copenhagen March 27, 1845.