August Willads Bech (21 July 1815 - 28 May 1877) was a

Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish ance ...

landowner. He owned Valbygård at

Slagelse Slagelse () is a town on Zealand, Denmark. The town is the seat of Slagelse Municipality, and is the biggest town of the municipality. It is located 15 km east of Korsør, 16 km north-east of Skælskør, 33 km south-east of Kalundborg and 14 km ...

and Borupgård at Borup. Valbygård is still owned by his descendants.

Early life and education

Bech was born on 21 July 1815 in Copenhagen, the son of merchant and ship-owner Jørgen Peter Bech (1782–1846) and Ellen Sophie Magdalene Meyer (1784–1846). He grew up in his father's house at

Nybrogade 22 Nybroegade 22/Magstræde 9 is a complex of historic buildings overlooking Slotsholmen Canal and Christiansborg in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It consists of a five-storey apartment building from the 1850s in Nybrogade and a four-storey building ...

and later studied agriculture in Denmark and Mecklenburg. His elder brother was Edward Bech, the Danish Counsel in New York.

Career

In 1840, Bech purchased

Fredsholm Fredsholm is a manor house and estate located close to Nakskov on the island of Lolland in southeastern Denmark. Fredsholm and Rudbjerggaard had the same owners in the period 1674–1819. History 1630–1755: Barnewitz and Bülow families Freds ...

at Nakskov on

Lolland Lolland (; formerly spelled ''Laaland'', literally "low land") is the fourth largest island of Denmark, with an area of . Located in the Baltic Sea, it is part of Region Sjælland (Region Zealand). As of 1 January 2022, it has 57,618 inhabitant ...

. In 1846, he purchased Valbygård at

for 500,000 Danish rigsdaler and then parted with Fredsholm the following year. He modernized the operations and converted many of the copyholds to freeholds. He also constructed a number of new buildings on the estate. In 1855, he also acquired nearby Brorupgård. The two estates had a combined area of more than 600 hectares and were mainly used for breeding of cattle. He operated a modern dairy on his estate. He was also a pioneer of cultivation of root crops. In 1856, he increased his holdings with the acquisitions of Moselund in Engesvang at Silkeborg. He planted forest on most of the estate. Bech was from 1855 and until his death a member of Sorø County Council.

Personal life and legacy

Bech married Kirstine Margrethe (Grethe) Rothe (7 June 1823 - 21 March 1886), a daughter of counter admiral

Carl Adolph Rothe Carl Adolph Rothe (8 December 1767 – 12 July 1834) was a naval officer in the Royal Danish Navy and governor of the Danish West Indies from 1820 to 1822. Biography Rothe was born on 8 December 1767 in Tybjerggård on Zealand, Denmark, to ...

(1767–1834) and Benedicte Ulfsparre de Tuxen (1790–1877), on 30 March 1842 in the Church of Holmen. He died on 28 May 1877 at

Engelsholm Engelsholm Castle, overlooking Engelsholm Lake, is located 14 km west of Vejle in south-western Denmark. Originally a manor house which traces its history back to the 15th century, it now houses a folk high school. History Little is known about En ...

in Vejle. He is buried at Norup Cemetery. Valbygaard was passed down to his eldest son Jørgen Peter Bech. His second eldest son Carl Bech purchased

Engelsholm Castle Engelsholm Castle, overlooking Engelsholm Lake, is located 14 km west of Vejle in south-western Denmark. Originally a manor house which traces its history back to the 15th century, it now houses a folk high school. History Little is known about En ...

at Vejle. His elfest daughter Benedichte married Ludvig Eduard Alexander Reventlow, Count of

Rudbjerggaard Rudbjerggaard, situated 7 km south of Nakskov, is the only half-timbered manor house on the island of Lolland in south-eastern Denmark. History Early history The first known reference to Rudbjerggaard is from 1231 when it is mentioned as crow ...

- The younger daughter Ellen Sophie Magdalene "Mimi" Bech married Knud Sehested, of Stamhuset Broholm on Funen.

Accolades

In 1850, Bech was created a Knight in the Order of the Dannebrog In 1864, he was awarded the Cross of Honour.

References

External links

August Villads Bech
ast geni.com
August Villads Becj

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bech, August Willads 19th-century Danish landowners 1815 births 1877 deaths