Joachim Zachris Duncker (12 November 1774 – 6 July 1809) was a Swedish soldier born in

Ristiina Ristiina (; in Swedish language, Swedish also known as ''Kristina'') was a municipalities of Finland, municipality of Finland. It was founded in 1649 and it was named after Kristina Stenbock, the wife of Governor-General in the Swedish Realm, Gover ...

in Savonia. In 1789 Duncker obtained the rank of 2nd

Lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

in the Savonia ranger regiment. He fought in the 1790

war War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...

against

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...

and proved his valor at the Battle of Perttimäki 19 May. In 1804 Duncker was promoted to

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

. During the

Finnish War The Finnish War ( sv, Finska kriget, russian: Финляндская война, fi, Suomen sota) was fought between the Gustavian era, Kingdom of Sweden and the Russian Empire from 21 February 1808 to 17 September 1809 as part of the Napoleonic ...

of 1808-1809 he distinguished himself as a brave and prominent officer. When Cronstedt's army retreated from

Mikkeli Mikkeli (; sv, S:t Michel; la, Michaelia) is a town and municipality in Finland. It is located in what used to be the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Etelä-Savo region. The municipality has a population of () (around 34,000 i ...

Iisalmi Iisalmi (; sv, Idensalmi) is a town and municipality in the region of Northern Savonia in Finland. It is located north of Kuopio and south of Kajaani. The municipality has a population of (), which makes it the second largest of the five towns ...

and

Oulu Oulu ( , ; sv, Uleåborg ) is a city, municipality and a seaside resort of about 210,000 inhabitants in the region of North Ostrobothnia, Finland. It is the most populous city in northern Finland and the fifth most populous in the country after: ...

through Leppävirta (March 1808), Duncker commanded the army's rearguard. During the

Battle of Pulkkila The Battle of Pulkkila was fought between Swedish and Russian forces near Pulkkila in Northern Ostrobothnia on 2 May 1808 during the Finnish War. At the battle of Pulkkila on 2 May 1808, Johan August Sandels marched eastwards to liberate those ...

(2 May 1808) he distinguished himself so well that

Johan August Sandels Count Johan August Sandels (31 August 1764 – 22 January 1831) was a Swedish soldier and politician, being appointed Governor-general of Norway (''Riksståthållare'' in Swedish, ''Rigsstatholder'' in Dano-Norwegian) 1818 and Field Marshal ...

gave him the honorary assignment to bring the news of the victory to the Swedish king. Shortly after, he was promoted to Major. In June 1808 he captured a large transport of supplies to the Russians. During the

Battle of Koljonvirta The Battle of Koljonvirta ( fi, Koljonvirran taistelu) ( sv, Slaget vid Virta bro) i.e. the Battle of the Virta Bridge was fought between Swedish and Russian troops on October 27, 1808. The Swedish force consisted of troops from Savolax and Öst ...

(27 October 1808), Duncker together with Colonel Fahlander and Major Malm and only 600 men helped Sandels to utterly defeated a superior Russian force. In 1809 Duncker fought the Russians in the Swedish province of

Västerbotten Västerbotten (), known in English as West Bothnia or Westrobothnia, is a province (''landskap'') in the north of Sweden, bordering Ångermanland, Lapland, North Bothnia, and the Gulf of Bothnia. It is known for the cheese named after the provi ...

, and was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. During the Battle of Hörnefors (5 July 1809) Duncker commanded the Swedish rearguard and received fatal wounds and died in the Russian encampment the day after. Duncker was buried next to

Umeå Umeå ( , , , locally ; South Westrobothnian: ;). fi, Uumaja; sju, Ubmeje; sma, Upmeje; se, Ubmi) is a city in northeast Sweden. It is the seat of Umeå Municipality and the capital of Västerbotten County. Situated on the Ume River, Ume� ...

church by the Russians that gave him a full honour guard. He lies buried together with a Russian cossack chief. In 1897 a memorial was erected on the spot where the grave was assumed to be. File:Cykelsemester Ystad-Haparanda 2011 1659.jpg, Duncker's monument at Hörnefors. File:Cykelsemester Ystad-Haparanda 2011 1661.jpg, Duncker's monument at Hörnefors.

Bibliography

* ''Duncker och Savolaxbrigaden'' by Bertil Nelsson; 2000–01; {{DEFAULTSORT:Duncker, Joachim Zachris 1774 births 1809 deaths Finnish people of German descent People from Ristiina Swedish military personnel of the Finnish War 18th-century Finnish people