Michael Herman Løvenskiold
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[edit]
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[edit]
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 respinsible 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[edit]
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 transgerred ownershop 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 imrpoved 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 ofr 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[edit]
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[edit]
- ^ 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.