AndyMfn275514 at 19:22, 21 April 2026

2026-04-21T19:22:51Z

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{{Short description|Danish nobleman (1691–1756)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Ulrik Christian Nissen
| order = 20th
| monarch = [[Frederick IV of Denmark|Frederick IV]]
| country = [[Denmark–Norway]]
| predecessor = [[Christen Brun-Lundegaard]]
| successor = Rasmus Hansen Attrup
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|last=yes|Diocesan offices|titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office2 = Diocesan Governor of Aarhus
| term_start2 = 31 January 1744
| term_end2 = 26 November 1746
| monarch2 = [[Christian VI]]<br/>[[Frederick V of Denmark|Frederick V]]
| predecessor2 = [[Jacob Benzon]]
| successor2 = Hans Frederik Levetzau
| office3 = Diocesan Governor of Trondhjem
| term_start3 = 9 April 1736
| term_end3 = 1744
| order3 = 7th
| monarch3 = Christian VI
| predecessor3 = Jacob Benzon
| successor3 = Christian de Stockfleth{{collapsed infobox section end}}
}}
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|last=yes|County officies|titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office4 = County Governor of Copenhagen
| term_start4 = 7 November 1752
| term_end4 = 17 October 1756
| order4 = 10th
| monarch4 = Frederick V
| predecessor4 = [[Christian Siegfried von Plessen]]
| successor4 = [[Jens Krag-Juel-Vind]]
| office5 = County Governor of Trondhjem
| term_start5 = 9 April 1736
| term_end5 = 1744
| order5 = 5th
| monarch5 = Christian VI
| predecessor5 = Jacob Benzon
| successor5 = Christian de Stockfleth
| office6 = County Governor of Havreballegaard
| term_start6 = 31 January 1744
| term_end6 = 26 November 1746
| monarch6 = Christian VI<br/>Frederick V
| predecessor6 = Jacob Benzon
| successor6 = Hans Frederik Levetzau
| office7 = County Governor of Stjernholm
| term_start7 = 31 January 1744
| term_end7 = 26 November 1746
| monarch7 = Christian VI<br/>Frederick V
| predecessor7 = Jacob Benzon
| successor7 = Hans Frederik Levetzau
{{collapsed infobox section end}}
}}
| birth_date = 1691
| birth_place = Denmark–Norway
| death_date = 17 October 1756
| office = Governor of Tranquebar
| term_start = 21 January 1720
| term_end = 12 October 1726
| death_place = Copenhagen, Denmark–Norway
| relations = {{Interlanguage link|Christian Siegfried Nissen-Benzon|da}} (brother)
}}'''Ulrik Christian von Nissen-Benzon to Skjersø'''{{Efn|{{IPA|da|ulʁɛg kʁɛsdjan fɔn nesən bɛnsɒn}}}} (alternatively spelled '''Ulrich''' and '''Kristian'''; 1691 – 17 October 1756) was a Danish nobleman and administrator.

Nissen was born in Denmark–Norway in 1691 and became ''[[Hofjunker]]'' in 1716. He was appointed as commander and [[Opperhoofd|''opperhoved'']] of the Danish colony of [[Tranquebar]] in 1718, in which he served until 1726. Upon returning home, Nissen became an ''[[Etatsråd]]'' in 1729 and from 1736 to 1744 diocesan governor (''{{Langx|da|stiftamtmand|label=none}}'') and [[County governor (Norway)|county governor]] of the [[Diocese of Trondhjem]] and {{Interlanguage link|Trondhjems amt|lt=Trondhjem County|no}}, respectively. Additionally, he served as diocesan governor of the [[Diocese of Aarhus]] and [[Amtmann|''amtmand'']] of {{Interlanguage link|Havreballegård Amt|lt=Havreballegård County|da}} and {{Interlanguage link|Stjernholm Amt|lt=Stjernholm County|da}} from 1747 to 1752, when he became ''amtmand'' of [[Copenhagen County]].

He took the name [[Nissen-Benzon|Benzon]] in 1754 after acquiring the ''{{Langx|da|stamhus|label=none}}'' (an [[entailed estate]]) of {{Interlanguage link|Skærsø (herregård)|lt=Skjersø|da}}. He died in Copenhagen on 17 October 1756, aged 64 to 65.

== Early life ==
Ulrik Christian Nissen was born in Denmark–Norway in 1691 to the nobleman,{{Sfn|Teisen|Bobé|1927|p=74, 107}}{{Sfn|Nissen|Nissen|p=24|1978}} Herman Lorenz Nissen, and Ida Sofie Amalie Glud.{{Sfn|Rosenkrantz|1936}}{{Sfn|Bricka|1898}}{{Sfn|Weidling|2000|p=258}}{{Sfn|Nissen|Nissen|p=25|1978}}{{Sfn|Teisen|Bobé|1927|p=74}} His father was an ''[[etatsråd]]''{{Sfn|Bricka|1898}}{{Sfn|Krogh|1868}}''{{Sfn|Nissen|Nissen|p=24|1978}}'' and ''{{Langx|da|amtsforvalter|label=none}}'' (a regional economic official) in {{Interlanguage link|Segeberg Amt|lt=Segeberg County|da}},{{Sfn|Weidling|2000|p=258}} while his mother was the daughter of Bishop {{Interlanguage link|Søren Glud (biskop)|lt=Søren Glud|da}}.{{Sfn|Rosenkrantz|1936}}{{Sfn|Teisen|Bobé|1927|p=74}}{{Sfn|Nissen|Nissen|p=24|1978}} In 1716, Ulrik Nissen became ''[[hofjunker]]'' (young nobleman who serves in the court).{{Sfn|Rosenkrantz|1936}}{{Sfn|Teisen|Bobé|1927|p=74}}{{Sfn|Weidling|2000|p=258}}

== Governor of Tranquebar ==
On 11 September 1718,{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=94}} Nissen was appointed as commander and [[Opperhoofd|''opperhoved'']] of the Danish colony of [[Tranquebar]].{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=94}}{{Sfn|Teisen|Bobé|1927|p=74}}{{Sfn|Bricka|1898}}{{Sfn|Weidling|2000|p=258}}{{Sfn|Nissen|Nissen|p=25|1978}} He departed from Denmark on the ship ''Jomfru Susanna'' in December the same year,{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=94}} reaching Tranquebar in early 1720 after encountering difficulties at the [[Cape of Good Hope]].{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=94}}{{Sfn|Larsen|1907|p=66}} On 21 January 1720, the Governor, [[Christen Brun-Lundegaard]], resigned,{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=54}}{{Sfn|Larsen|1907|p=66}} and Nissen's administration assumed the governorship during the following days.{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=94}}{{Sfn|Larsen|1907|p=66}}

=== Tariff policies ===
As governor, Nissen issued a [[customs]] tariff on 5 August 1721, whereby import and export [[Duty (tax)|duties]] on the seaward side of the colony were fixed. Additionally, from the customs house, anchorage fees and weighing fees were levied on all vessels except those of the [[Danish East India Company]]. As [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] merchants conducted the majority of the coastal trade, attempts were made to attract them by granting reductions in duties for unloading and loading in the [[roadstead]] of Tranquebar.{{Sfn|Larsen|1907|p=66}} At the same time, the Mughal merchants who wished to pass through the coast of the town were compelled to purchase a sea passport ({{Langx|da|sø-pas|label=none}}), which cost 5-600 [[Rupee|rupees]] per year.{{Sfn|Larsen|1907|pp=66–67}} The {{Abbr|D.E.I.C.|Danish East India Company}}'s armed ships inspected all Mughal vessels to the best of their ability; however, in 1720, two ships were detained for having violated the Danish regulations, but were quickly released by the colony's [[privy council|Privy Council]] ({{Lang|da|secrete råd}}).{{Sfn|Larsen|1907|p=67}}

Concurrently, the colony's treasury was depleted of funds, and the Privy Council did not want to expose itself to new complications. The small vessels that engaged in the regional trade were in very poor condition, and it was difficult to maintain commercial communication between Tranquebar and the [[Sunda Islands]]. Additionally, the Danish [[Factory (trading post)|factory]] in [[Oddeway Torre]] was lost after a dispute with the local authorities, and trade on the [[Malabar Coast]] was temporarily abandoned.{{Sfn|Larsen|1907|p=67}} In 1725, the conditions were so bad that the Company was close to dissolving.{{Sfn|Larsen|1907|p=68}} Meanwhile, Nissen returned to Denmark–Norway on 22 October 1726 on board the ''Grev Laurvig'' with all his possessions,{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=94}} while transferring the governorate to [[Rasmus Hansen Attrup]] on 12 October 1726,{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|pp=43, 94}} who was the former [[governor of Dannemarksnagore]].{{Sfn|Larsen|1907|p=68}}{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=39}}

== Later life as county governor ==
{{multiple image
| image1 = Nissen-benzon.jpeg
| image2 = Seal of Ulrich Christian Nissen.png
| footer = Coat of arms of the [[Nissen-Benzon|Nissen-Benzon family]] (top) and Ulrik Christian Nissen's personal seal (bottom)
| width1 = 150
| width2 = 150
| total_width = 150
| align = right
| direction = vertical
}}
Upon returning home,{{Sfn|Bricka|1898}} Nissen received the title of ''Etatsråd'' on 11 October 1729.{{Sfn|Rosenkrantz|1936}} From 9 April 1736 to 1744,{{Sfn|Weidling|2000|p=258}} he was diocesan governor (''{{Langx|da|stiftamtmand|label=none}}'') of the [[Diocese of Trondhjem]] and [[County governor (Norway)|county governor]] of {{Interlanguage link|Trondhjems amt|lt=Trondhjem County|no}}.{{Sfn|Rosenkrantz|1936}}{{Sfn|Weidling|2000|pp=35, 41, 258}} Followingly, on 31 January 1744,{{Sfn|Rosenkrantz|1936}} Nissen became a member of the naval ''[[Generalkrigskommisariat]]''.{{Sfn|Rosenkrantz|1936}}{{Sfn|Teisen|Bobé|1927|p=74}}{{Sfn|Bricka|1898}}{{Sfn|Weidling|2000|p=258}}{{Sfn|Nissen|Nissen|p=25|1978}} He was dismissed on 26 November 1746,{{Sfn|Rosenkrantz|1936}} as the institution merged with the Admiralty Court (''{{Langx|da|Admiralitetskollegiet|label=none}}''), although keeping his full salary for some time in compensation.{{Sfn|Bricka|1898}}

On 26 June 1747,{{Sfn|Rosenkrantz|1936}} Nissen became diocesan governor of the [[Diocese of Aarhus]] and [[Amtmann|''amtmand'']] of {{Interlanguage link|Havreballegård Amt|lt=Havreballegård County|da}} and {{Interlanguage link|Stjernholm Amt|lt=Stjernholm County|da}},{{Sfn|Teisen|Bobé|1927|p=74}}{{Sfn|Bricka|1898}}{{Sfn|Nissen|Nissen|p=25|1978}} where he served until 7 November 1752,{{Sfn|Rosenkrantz|1936}} when he became ''amtmand'' of [[Copenhagen County]].{{Sfn|Rosenkrantz|1936}}{{Sfn|Bricka|1898}}{{Sfn|Nissen|Nissen|p=25, 102|1978}} Nissen was additionally an [[Assessor (law)|assessor]] in the [[Danish Supreme Court]]{{Sfn|Rosenkrantz|1936}} from 1744 to 1756.{{Sfn|Nissen|Nissen|p=25|1978}}

On 4 September 1747,{{Sfn|Rosenkrantz|1936}}{{Sfn|Andrup|1946|p=5}} Nissen became a [[Knight of the Dannebrog]]{{Sfn|Bricka|1898}}{{Sfn|Weidling|2000|p=258}}{{Sfn|Teisen|Bobé|1927|p=74}}{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=94}} with the motto: "Grace will come at an unexpected hour" (''{{Langx|la|Gratia superveniet, quæ non sperabitur hora|links=no}}).{{Sfn|Andrup|1946|p=5}}'' Additionally, he received the ''{{Langx|da|stamhus|label=none}}'' ([[entailed estate]]) of {{Interlanguage link|Skærsø (herregård)|lt=Skjersø|da}} on 1 May 1755, after a compromise with his cousin on 10 December 1754.{{Sfn|Barfod|1877}} Subsequently, he took the name [[Nissen-Benzon|Benzon]]{{Sfn|Rosenkrantz|1936}}{{Sfn|Bricka|1898}} as a part of the compromise.{{Sfn|Barfod|1877}}{{Efn|According to the rules of the ''stamhus'', every owner had to add the name [[Nissen-Benzon|Benzon]] to their own surname.{{Sfn|Barfod|1877}}}}

Nissen died unmarried on 17 October 1756{{Sfn|Rosenkrantz|1936}}{{Sfn|Larsen|1940|p=94}}{{Efn|Other sources say 15 October 1756.{{Sfn|Krogh|1868}}{{Sfn|Bricka|1898}}{{Sfn|Nissen|Nissen|p=25|1978}}}} in Copenhagen.{{Sfn|Teisen|Bobé|1927|p=74}}{{Sfn|Bricka|1898}}{{Sfn|Weidling|2000|p=258}}

== See also ==

* {{Annotated link|Sivert Adeler}}
* {{Annotated link|Johan Sigismund Hassius}}

== Notes and references ==

=== Notes ===
{{Notelist}}

=== References ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Works cited ===
{{refbegin|2}}
* {{Cite book |last=Teisen |first=J. V. |url=https://slaegtsbibliotek.dk/927049.pdf |title=Danmarks Adels Aarbog 1927 |last2=Bobé |first2=Louis |author-link2=:da:Louis Bobé |publisher=J.H. Schultz Publishing |others=Illustrations by Friedrich Britze |year=1927 |series=Danmarks Adels Aarbog |location=Copenhagen |language=da |trans-title=Yearbook of the Danish nobility}}
* {{Cite book |last=Nissen |first=Gunnar Brun |url=https://slaegtsbibliotek.dk/927854.pdf |title=Slægten Nissen fra Bov sogn |last2=Nissen |first2=Harald |publisher=self-published |year=1978 |location=Trondheim |language=no, en |trans-title=The Nissen family from Bov parish}}
* {{Cite book |last=Rosenkrantz |first=Palle |author-link=:da:Palle Rosenkrantz |url=https://slaegtsbibliotek.dk/929042.pdf |title=Amtmandsbogen |publisher=Arthur Jensens Forlag |year=1936 |location=Copenhagen |pages=116 |language=da |trans-title=The Governor's Book}}
* {{Cite book |last=Bricka |first=Carl Frederik |author-link=Carl Frederik Bricka |url=https://www.google.dk/books/edition/Dansk_biografisk_lexikon/7bmhCPwRYbsC?hl=da&gbpv=1 |title=Dansk biografisk lexikon |collaboration=[[George Kringelbach|Kringelbach, George]] |publisher=[[Gyldendal]] |year=1898 |volume=12 |location=Copenhagen |pages=303 |language=da |trans-title=Danish biographical dictionary}}
* {{Cite book |last=Weidling |first=Tor |author-link=:no:Tor Weidling |url=https://slaegtsbibliotek.dk/2025/947905.pdf |title=Eneveldets menn i Norge |publisher=Messel Forlag |year=2000 |isbn=82-548-0065-0 |series=Rigsarkivaren skriftserie |volume=7 |location=Oslo |language=no |trans-title=Men of the absolutism in Norway}}
* {{Cite book |last=Krogh |first=Ferdinand |author-link=:da:Ferdinand von Krogh |url=https://www.google.dk/books/edition/De_danske_majorater/uQsCiDYdgIkC?hl=da&gbpv=1&dq=Ulrik+christian+Nissen+%22nissen-benzon%22&pg=PA312&printsec=frontcover |title=De danske majorater |publisher=[[Chr. Steen & Søn]] |year=1868 |location=Copenhagen |pages=312 |language=da |trans-title=The Danish Manors}}
* {{Cite book |last=Larsen |first=Kay |author-link=Kay Larsen |url=https://slaegtsbibliotek.dk/922667.pdf |title=Guvernører, Residenter, Kommandanter og Chefer |publisher=Arthur Jensens Forlag |year=1940 |location=Copenhagen |pages= |language=Danish |trans-title=Governors, Residents, Commanders and Chiefs}}
* {{Cite book |last=Larsen |first=Kay |title=De dansk-ostindiske Koloniers Historie |publisher=Centralforlaget |year=1907 |location=Copenhagen |language=Danish |trans-title=History of the Danish East Indian Colonies}}
* {{Cite book |last=Andrup |first=Otto |author-link=Otto Andrup |url=https://slaegtsbibliotek.dk/900720.pdf |title=Vaabenførende Slægter i Danmark |publisher=Heraldisk Forlag |year=1946 |volume=3 |location=Copenhagen |language=da |trans-title=Arms-bearing Families in Denmark}}
* {{Cite book |last=Barfod |first=Frederik |author-link=:da:Frederik Barfod |url=https://www.ronlev.dk/bibliotek/2242.pdf |title=Lavrits Ulrik la Cour og Ellen Kirstine Poulsen |publisher=self-published |year=1877 |location=Copenhagen |pages=116 |language=da}}
{{refend}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nissen, Ulrik Christian}}
[[Category:1691 births]]
[[Category:1756 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Danish India]]
[[Category:Benzon family]]
[[Category:Nobility from Denmark–Norway]]
[[Category:18th-century Danish nobility]]
[[Category:Tranquebar]]
[[Category:County governors of Copenhagen]]
[[Category:Governors of Danish India]]
[[Category:County governors of Norway]]
[[Category:Knights of the Order of the Dannebrog]]

Ulrik Christian Nissen - Revision history

AndyMfn275514 at 19:22, 21 April 2026