Peder Hansen (27 November 1798 – 1 September 1880) was a Danish politician and colonial administrator. During his colonial career in India, he was governor of Tranquebar and Serampore, in which he became known for selling the two to Great Britain in 1845. After selling Danish India, Hansen went on a commercial and diplomatic mission to China, where he established a series of Danish consulates. Later in 1848, Hansen would serve as governor-general of the Danish West Indies, in relation to a slave revolt. He would stay in this office until 1851 when he would be succeeded by Hans Ditmar Feddersen. Additionally, from 1854 to 1861, Hansen would represent Aalborg County in the Rigsdagen.
Early life
editPeder Hansen was born on 17 November 1798 in Aalborg to Anders Hansen and Christiane Tranmoes. At three years old, Peder's father, Anders, died, and his mother remarried Anders' good friend, Joseph Nielsen five years later.[1] because of his mother and stepfather's wealth, Peder and his two stepbrothers would be sent to Aalborg Cathedral School.[2]
Despite there not being much information about Hansen's upbringing, it can be concluded that Hansen was brought up in a wealthy merchant home and that he developed a close relationship with both his mother and stepfather.[2] Hansen would graduate from Aalborg Cathedral School in 1817, and he would thereafter begin studying law in Copenhagen.[2] Concurrently he would work for Danske Kancelli to sustain his education.[2] In 1825, Hansen would graduate his law studies, and in the following year, he would be employed as a clerk to the government of Tranquebar.[2]
Career in East India
editMission to China
editCareer in the West Indies
editPolitical career
editLater years
editFamily tree
edit| Peder Tranmoes (1741–76) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joseph Nielsen (1772–1848) | Christiane Tranmoes (1772-1835) | Anders Hansen (1764–1802) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Niels Nielsen | Anders Hansen Nielsen | Peder Hansen (1798–1880) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Madsen 1984, p. 11.
- ^ a b c d e Madsen 1984, p. 12.
Works cited
edit- Madsen, Verner (1984). Peder Hansen - en dansk koloniembedsmands historie (PDF) (in Danish). Odense: Odensen Universitetsforlag.