Matthias Jessen (politician, 1641)

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Matthias Jessen (born November 21, 1641 in Großenwiehe ; † March 7, 1712 in Altona ) was a President of Altona.

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Matthias Jessen was the son of Johannes Andreas Jessen and his wife Margarethe, nee Lange. Margarethe Jessen's father worked as a merchant in Flensburg . Johannes Andreas Jessen was pastor in Großenwiehe. Matthias Jessen had a younger brother, Thomas Balthasar von Jessen . Both attended the old grammar school in Flensburg. Matthias Jessen then studied theology and oriental languages ​​from 1662 at the University of Rostock and the University of Helmstedt . After graduation Jessen worked for four years as a steward on Good Rundhof of Hans von Rumohr . During this time he took over the education of Rumohr's son Henning. In 1670 he began studying law at the University of Jena and graduated in 1673 with a doctorate. He then worked as a court lawyer and wrote legal writings.

In 1680, Jessen succeeded Rudolf Roland as chief president of Altona . Jessen received the office presumably through the mediation of his brother Thomas Balthasar von Jessen, who worked in an influential position at the German Chancellery in Copenhagen as Senate Secretary and as President of the Magistrate Council . Matthias Jessen held the office until 1712. During his tenure, Altona developed rapidly. In the period from 1664 to 1710 the number of inhabitants quadrupled from 3,000 to 12,000 people, which was accompanied by brisk construction activities. In addition to the new construction of the tower of what would later become the main church of St. Trinity , Altona received a new town hall in 1688. When Altona was occupied by Swedish troops during the Great Northern War , Jessen was able to reduce the pillage from the originally requested 50,000  Reichstaler to 30,000 Reichstaler. Jessen had the power of the king to negotiate with the city of Hamburg in the event of a dispute . Jessen was not significantly involved in the disputes about the king's claims on Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf , which were held in the Altona town hall from 1687 to 1689.

A sea ​​blockade connected with the wars of the Palatinate Succession allowed the trading business in Altona to flourish. Together with his brother, Matthias Jessen naturalized foreign merchants in Altona. The naturalizations, some of which were made for high payment, enabled traders to do business under the Danish flag using Danish sea passes.

The administration and the judiciary of Altona under Matthias Jessen's aegis were seen as corrupt, irregular and selfish. In 1703 a commission on behalf of the Danish king examined the conditions in the Pinneberg rule and came to the conclusion that the grievances were widespread throughout the rule area, but were particularly large in Altona. Probably for this reason Matthias Jessen was not succeeded by his eldest son Johann Christian from 1712, who had been Vice President in Altona since 1703 and had royal prospect , but Claus Claussen.

Jessenstraße in Altona-Altstadt has been a reminder of Matthias Jessen and the son of the same name since 1950 .

family

Matthias Jessen was married to Eva Chemnitz (around 1642–1703) since 1673. Eva Chemnitz was a daughter of Christian Chemnitz and the widow of the artistic director D. Johann Friedrich Gerhard from Eisenberg. The couple had six children, including Matthias Jessen , who also held the office of President in Altona from 1732 to 1736.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Entry 1662 in the Rostock matriculation portal
personal data
SURNAME Jessen, Matthias
BRIEF DESCRIPTION President of Altona
DATE OF BIRTH November 21, 1641
PLACE OF BIRTH Grown up
DATE OF DEATH March 7, 1712
Place of death Altona