Christopher Heins (died October 1689) was a lieutenant and interim

Governor-General Governor-general (plural ''governors-general''), or governor general (plural ''governors general''), is the title of an office-holder. In the context of governors-general and former British colonies, governors-general are appointed as viceroy t ...

The Danish West Indies The Danish West Indies ( da, Dansk Vestindien) or Danish Antilles or Danish Virgin Islands were a Danish colony in the Caribbean, consisting of the islands of Saint Thomas with ; Saint John ( da, St. Jan) with ; and Saint Croix with . The ...

during two short periods, respectively 29 June 1686 to March 1687 and from October 1688 to 1689. Little is known about his career or personal life outside his reigns under company rule. When

Gabriel Milan Gabriel Milan ( – 26 March 1689) was a German-born colonial administrator and planter who served as 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 h ...

was appointed governor in 1684, Heins accompanied him to the West Indies, and would succeed him in the event of his death (after Niels Lassen who was the direct successor). When Milan's rule fell into disfavor with the Danish administration in 1686 and he was removed from office, he gave the charge of the fortress to Heins. However,

Mikkel Mikkelsen Mikkel Mikkelsen (also called Michael) (DOB - DOD) was Governor-General ad interim of St. Thomas in the Danish West Indies, from 27 February 1686 to 29 June 1686. Little is known about his life, aside from his short term as Governor during the tu ...

of the Danish party was the official governor until 29 June 1686 when official charge of the islands was given to Heins.Westergaard, West Indies, 38 The official reporter, Andrew Brock, said about the incidents (in a letter to

Albert Gyldensparre Albert may refer to: Companies * Albert (supermarket), a supermarket chain in the Czech Republic * Albert Heijn, a supermarket chain in the Netherlands * Albert Market, a street market in The Gambia * Albert Productions, a record label * Albert C ...

): ''"May God in heaven aid him (Heins) oto carry on his government better than his predecessors, which I expect him to do, as he has shown himself only as an honest and upright man."'' After the initial confusion of the Milan deposement,

Adolph Esmit Adolph Esmit was a Danish colonial administrator and slave trader who served as governor of Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Thomas in the Danish West Indies from 1683 to 1684, and again from 1687 to 1688. He was born in Holstein. His older ...

was reinstated as governor in 1687, leaving Heins as vice-governor. However, this rule was short, as the company quickly found that Esmit was unable to fulfill his obligations in a satisfactory manner, and he was recalled to

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark ...

the year after.Westergaard, West Indies, 40 Vice-admiral Ivar Hoppe who was taking Esmit back called the inhabitants together on 8 July 1688 and told them that he wished to know if Esmit’s statement that he held the affection of all on the island was true. "If you want Adolph Esmit to become governor, speak now while there is yet time," the vice-admiral said. To this the planters all responded as with one voice, “No! if that should happen, we should all leave the land!” When asked concerning vice-governor Heins, they replied that they asked for no better governor. Heins was reinstated as governor ad interim in October of that year. This reign would be short, however, as he died only a year after.Westergaard, West Indies, 46

Bibliography

* Waldemar Westergaard, ''The Danish West Indies under Company Rule (1671–1754)'' (MacMillan, New York, 1917).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Heins, Christopher Governors of the Danish West Indies Year of birth missing 1689 deaths 17th century in the Danish West Indies 17th-century Danish military personnel