Jens Lind (businessman)
Jens Lind | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1763 or 1764 Christianshavn, Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Died | 1821-11-11 |
| Occupation(s) | Maritime captain, ship proprietor, merchant, slave trader, estate owner, industrial entrepreneur |
| Years active | Late 1780s–1821 |
| Known for | Participation in the Triangle Trade; industrial enterprises in Copenhagen and Vordingborg; contribution to Danish privateering fleet |
Jens Lind (born 1763 or 1764 – died 11 November 1821) was a Danish maritime captain, ship proprietor, merchant, slave trader, estate owner, and industrial entrepreneur. From the late 1780s until 1806, he participated in the Triangle Trade, facilitating the transport of approximately 1,800 to 2,000 enslaved individuals from Guinea to the Danish West Indies. Notably, nearly half of these voyages were conducted illicitly following Denmark's 1803 prohibition of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Around the turn of the 19th century, Lind expanded his business interests to include industrial enterprises such as a Copenhagen brewery (established in 1802) and various manufacturing operations—including a paper mill, oil mill, and soap factory—located on his Hulemose estate near Vordingborg beginning in 1808.
Early life
Lind was born in Christianshavn, Copenhagen, to Hendrich Jensen Lind and Anna Dothea Olufsdatter. His father worked as a mate for the Danish Asiatic Company and was involved in the Triangle Trade during the 1770s. During this time, he captained voyages to Guinea and the Danish West Indies that transported enslaved people.
Ship captain, ship-owner and slave trader
Jens Lind commenced his seafaring career as a cabin boy and successfully completed his navigation certification in 1793. Around 1787, he purchased the brig Haabet, which undertook a voyage to Guinea in 1797 to carry enslaved individuals to the Danish West Indies. It is probable that Lind remained in either the colonies or Guinea during this interval rather than returning directly to Denmark.
In 1796, Lind married Anthonette Philippine Wrisbergl, daughter of Friedrich Lind who owned the Prospect Hill plantation on Saint Croix. The couple established their residence in Christianshavn, Copenhagen, where Lind maintained his participation in the Triangle Trade.
Slave trading: Between 1797 and 1806, Lind coordinated numerous slave transport missions to the Danish West Indies aboard vessels such as Albertine Wilhelmine, Martha Magdalena, Kronprinsesse Maria, Experiment, Nicoline, and Christiansborg. Despite Denmark’s official abolition of the trans-Atlantic slave trade from 1803 onward, Lind escalated unauthorized shipments during subsequent years. His last documented slave voyage occurred in 1806 on board Christiansborg, carrying 133 enslaved people.
Industrialist and landowner
In 1796, Lind acquired Kamphøffner's bakery located in Frederiksberg. By 1800, he purchased two lots from Gustav Holck-Winterfeldt’s divestment of the Maglegård estate in Gentofte, where he established a farm named Lindslyst.
According to the 1801 census, Lind and his family resided with brewer J. D. Vogel at Strandgade 30. His business activities encompassed ownership of a stamp mill in Christianshavn; operation of a soap factory situated at Lavendelstræde and Halmtorvet (active as of 1811); and management of a combined soap and candle manufacturing facility in Kongens Lyngby. On Hesselø island, he engaged in agriculture, constructed infrastructure for producing Swiss cheese, and participated in fishing ventures.
In 1802, after acquiring an older brewery at Vandkunsten 8, Lind obtained a brewing license. Between 1803 and 1808, he transferred brewing operations to Kompagnistræde while transforming the Vandkunsten property into an elegant townhouse.
On 15 December 1802, he purchased extensive fideikommis estates near Vordingborg for a sum of 600,000 rigsdaler. These holdings comprised Iselingen (including Marienberg and Snertingegård), Kosenfeldt (with Aunø, Nygaards Windmill, Vordingborg Færgegaard), Ørslev skovridergaard estate (alongside Kastrup and Ørslev kirketiender), as well as Ørslev, Køng, and Sværdborg kongetiender. Subsequently, on 18 December 1804, Lind sold Iselingen, Ørslev skovridergaard, and Ørslev’s church- and royal tithes to Hans Henrik Peter Reiersen for 420,000 rigsdaler. The properties Rosenfeldt, Aunø, Nygaard Windmill, Vordingborg Færgegaard together with Kastrup and Sværdborg kirketiende/kongetiende were sold to Frederik Hoppe.
Contribution to the Danish Privateering Fleet
In September 1807, Jens Lind and his associates purchased the brig Christine Henriette, a merchant vessel originally constructed in France. They donated this ship to the government for transformation into a privateer equipped with 28 guns. Additionally, Lind and his partners financed three more privateers being prepared in Helsingør under the supervision of a younger Jens Lind. After undergoing modifications, the Christine Henriette was rechristened Admiral Juel, which was subsequently seized by the British Royal Navy during a notable single-ship engagement on 2 March 1808.
Vordingborg, 1808–1821
In 1808, Lind acquired Hulemose Nygård located in Vordingborg, which included several watermills. He expanded the property by establishing a paper mill, oil mill, and soap factory, converting roughly ten existing buildings to support these industrial activities.
On 6 January 1816, Lind bought nearly two hectares (equivalent to 40 tønder) previously part of the Iselingen estate from Markus Giøe in Vordingborg. This purchase also granted him permission to construct a windmill on the land. The smock mill, known as Vordingborg Mill, was erected there and was valued at 11,000 rigsdaler as of 25 September 1818.
For his notable services, Lind was honored with knighthood in the Order of the Dannebrog in 1813.