John Christmas (3 February 1799 – 3 November 1873) 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 ...

naval officer who later settled as a plantation owner on

Saint Croix Saint Croix; nl, Sint-Kruis; french: link=no, Sainte-Croix; Danish and no, Sankt Croix, Taino: ''Ay Ay'' ( ) is an island in the Caribbean Sea, and a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), an unincorpo ...

in the Danish West Indies. In 1871, he briefly served as acting Governor-General of the Danish West Indies. He was the paternal grandfather of writer

Walter Christmas Walter Christmas-Dirckinck-Holmfeld (10 February 1861–18 March 1924), commonly known as Walter Christmas, was a Danish author, naval officer, diplomat, and spy for MI6. Today, he is best known for his children's books. He also wrote novels, no ...

Early life and education

Christmas was born on 3 February 1799 in Copenhagen, the son of ship captain and general trader John Christmas and Johanne Maria Heinrich (1771–1808). His parents were divorced in 1803. His maternal grandfather was Johan Friedrich Heinrich.

Career

Christmas became a cadet in 1813, a junior lieutenant in 1820, a senior lieutenant in 1827, captain lieutenant in 1840, captain in 1847 and commodore in 1852. In 1821–22, he was with the corvette ''Diana'' in the Danish West Indies. In 1823–28, on leave from the navy, he sailed in the West Indies trade as captain of Dunzfelt & Co.'s frigate ''Henriette Louise''. In 1835–42, he was captain of the bargue ''Johanne Marie'', which he himself owned, in the West Indies, Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg - Danske Fregatter under Equipering i Foraaret 1849 - 1850

Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg - Danske Fregatter under Equipering i Foraaret 1849 - 1850

In 1843–45, he was back in naval service, as captain of ''Mercurius'', first in the Danish West Indies and then as part of the Mediterranean squadron under H. G. Garde. In the years 1845–48, he undertook several trips to the West Indies. During the First Schleswig War, in 1848, he was commander of first ''Freja'' and then '' Havfruen'' (18 August 1848 – 14 October 1848) in the North Sea squadron, and in 1849 commander of the frigate '' Rota''.

In the Danish West Indies

Back in January 1837, he had leased the large plantation Sion Farm. He had later bought it. On 8 March 1844, he had also bought

Peters Rest Peters may refer to: People * Peters (surname) * Peters Band, a First Nations band in British Columbia, Canada Places United States * Peters, California, a census-designated place * Peters, Florida, a town * Peters Township, Kingman County, Kans ...

(the Stock Estate, Cathrines Rest included) for £4,000. Together with R. Karr, he also owned the plantation Lover Love. In 1855 he was commissioned ''à la suite'' in the navy and, upon application, received his resignation in 1862 with the rank of counter admiral. In 1850, Christmas received permission to travel to the West Indies, where he settled in 1853 as a plantation owner on

. He gradually gained an influential position. In 1858–59 he was sent by the Danish government on a diplomatic mission to San Domingo. On 1 April 1865, he became a member of the colonial council and later deputy governor. On the sudden death of Governor , in February 1871, he was became acting governor and served as such for four months. He was succeeded by Christmas lived on the plantation Peters Rest until his death.

Personal life

Christmas married on 24 May1823 in Copenhagen to Malvina Benners (1802–1876). She was the daughter of wholesale merchant (''grosserer'') Isaac Salomon Benners from

Kokkedal Kokkedal () is the municipal seat of Fredensborg Municipality and a northern settlement in the urban area of Hørsholm, located on the coastline of northern Zealand, Denmark, between the two towns, Nivå and Hørsholm, 30 km north of Copenhage ...

(c. 1763–1841; also the owner of Vestergade 7) and Marie Christine Applebye (1771–1831). At least five of their seven children lived to adulthood. Their youngest son was the father of writer

Awards

Christmas was created a

Knight of the order of the Dannebrog The Order of the Dannebrog ( da, Dannebrogordenen) is a Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by Christian V. Until 1808, membership in the order was limited to fifty members of noble or royal rank, who formed a single class known ...

in 1845. In 1849, he was awarded the Cross of Honour. In 1859, he was created a Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog.

References

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External links

John Christmas
at geni.com 19th-century Danish naval officers Governors of the Danish West Indies Danish sugar industry businesspeople People from Copenhagen Commanders of the Order of the Dannebrog 1799 births 1873 deaths Sugar plantation owners Danish planters da:John Christmas