Henrik Span facts for kids
Henrik Span (born April 17, 1634 – died December 27, 1694) was a brave naval officer. He served in the navies of the Netherlands, Venice, and Denmark. He became an Admiral in the Royal Danish Navy in 1683. From 1690, he was in charge of the Royal Danish Naval Dockyard in Copenhagen. In 1692, the king, Christian V of Denmark, gave him a special estate called Hørbygaard near Holbæk. He was also made a nobleman.
Early Life
Henrik Span was born in a town called Oldendorf in Germany. His father, Bernhard Span, was a consul, which is like an official representative. Henrik started working on merchant ships when he was very young. For a short time, he was even captured by the French.
A Life at Sea
Henrik Span joined the Royal Dutch Navy. From 1652 to 1654, he fought in a war against England. Then, from 1654 to 1658, he served in the Venetian navy. This was during a war against the Ottoman Empire. In 1658, he went back to the Royal Dutch Navy.
_by_Bastiaen_Stopendael.jpg)
He served under a famous admiral named Michael de Ruyter. Their fleet was sent to Denmark and helped free the city of Nyborg in November 1659. After this, Henrik returned to the Netherlands. He began sailing for Dutch India, first as a navigator and then as a ship's master from 1664. He was in East Asia from 1665 to 1671 before returning home.
In 1672, he became a captain in the Royal Dutch Navy. He was promoted to commander in 1674. This was because he showed great bravery in the war against England.
In May 1677, Henrik Span joined the Royal Danish Navy. He was made a captain of the first class. He commanded a ship called Norske Løve in the Battle of Køge Bay on July 1. After this battle, he was made a Vice Admiral. He then commanded a group of ships in the Baltic Sea fleet. He served under Admiral General Cornelis Tromp. He was part of a fleet that went to Öland. He lost an eye during the capture of Borgholm. Later, he commanded ships under Niels Juel. He also helped with a fleet sent to Rügen in 1678. In 1679, he led the Siege of Kalmar.
In 1678, Henrik Span became a member of the Admiralty. This was a group that managed the navy. In 1680, he became an inspector at Bremerholm, a naval base. In 1683, he was promoted to Admiral. In 1684, he was sent to Ertholmene. His job was to build a port and a fortress on Christiansø.
Henrik Span also supervised an English shipbuilder. This shipbuilder worked at the Royal Danish Naval Dockyards at Holmen from 1687 to 1690. The shipbuilder was later fired because he had problems working with Span. A new job was created for Span in 1690: Head of Holmen. He immediately started to reorganize the naval base and its shipyards.
The new shipyard, Nyholm, opened that same year. Span was in charge of building the first ship there. It was a large warship called Dannebroge, which was launched in 1692.
Henrik Span was the first shipbuilder in Denmark to design ships using math and drawings. He created plans for two large warships and three merchant ships. He also designed floating docks, cannons, and mortars.
Family Life
Henrik Span was married two times. His first wife was Albertzie Claesdatter. They married around 1660 in the Netherlands. Their marriage ended in 1674. His second wife was Susanne Christine Schönbach (born around 1657 – died 1722). They married in February 1686. They had one daughter, Charlotte Amalie Henriksdatter Span. She married Hans August v. Pagelsen, but they did not have any children.
King Christian V of Denmark gave Henrik Span the Hørbygaard estate near Holbæk in 1692. He was also made a nobleman that same year. Henrik Span died on December 27, 1694, in Copenhagen. He is buried in Hørby Church.
