Michael Herman Løvenskiold (15 October 1751 - 19 April 1807) was a Danish landowner, district governor (amtmand]] and chamberlain. He owned Løvenborg and Vognserup at Holbæk.
Early life and education
Løvenskiold was born on 15 November 1751 at Aggersvold, the son of the Norwegian baron Severin Leopoldus Løvenskiold (1719–76) and Magdalene Charlotte Hedevig Løvenskiold (née Numsen, 1731–96). He earned a law degree from the University of Copenhagen in 1772. He later worked as an assistant (auskultant) in Rentekammeret.[1]
Career
In 1781, Køvensjiold was appointed district governor (amtmand) of Holbæk County. In 1793, he was also appointed district governor of Kalundborg, Sæbygårds and Dragsholm counties. He was also responsible for overseeing the royal holdings in Odsherred.[1]
In 1774, he was created chamberlain (kammerherre). In 1803, he was created a White Knight.[1]
Landowner
After the father's death in 1776, Løvenskiold's mother charged him with managing Vognserup. In 1776–80, he kept a detailed journal of the operations. In 1678, Løvenskiold's mother transferred ownership of Vogneserup and Løvenborg to him.[2]
Both as a landholder and as district governor, he took a profound interest in the living conditions of the tenant farmers. He improved their living conditions, implemented reforms and constructed schools for their children. He also adopted a critical approach to the ruthless way many of his peer's treated the peasants on their land. In 1795, he was made a member of the hoveri (mandatory work) commission of Zealand-Funen. From 2 October 1795 to 8 November 1797, he kept a detailed diary of the work in the commission. In one case, he mentions how it takes "the patience of an angel" not to beat up a fellow landholder for his brutal treatment of the peasants.[1]
Personal life
On 18 May 1774, he married Frederikke Juliane Marie Knuth (1755-1804). She was a daughter of count Eggert Christopher Knuth til Knuthenborg (1722–76) and Maria von Numsen (1734–65).[1]
He died on 19 April 1807 and is buried at Nørre Jernløse graveyard. [3]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Michael Herman Løvenskiold". Dansk Biografisk Leksikon (in Danish). Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ "Løvenborg". danskeherregaarde.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ "Michael Herman Løvenskiold". gravsted.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 16 June 2022.
This page was last edited on 6 June 2024, at 16:34