Hans Wassard


Hans Wassard was a Danish merchant, landowner and one of Copenhagen's 32 Men. He invested in a number of privateer ships during the Gunboat War. He owned Marienlyst Manor at Vordingborg.

Early life and background

Wassard was born at Vordingborg, the son of Mathias Hansen Wassard and Elisabeth Catherine Aagaard. His father was the proprietor of the farm Holmgaard. His maternal grandfather was the businessman Ole Hansen Aagaard.
Wassard's father died at Holmegaard on 22 March 1774. The estate was sold by his mother in 1795. Hans Wassard was sent to Copenhagen for a commercial education. In 1787, he worked as bookkeeper for Jacob Gregorius Graah on Vimmelskaftet.

Career

On 19 June 1795, shortly after the Copenhagen Fire of 1795, Wassard was appointed as one of the extra directors of Kkøbenhavns Brandforsikring.
Onm 9 June 1795, he was granted citizenship as a wholesaler in Vopenhagen. In 17921794, he had served as fattigforstander in the Parhis of the Holy Ghost. On 22 December 1800, he was elected as one of Copenhagen's 32 Men.
He acquired his old employer's property on Vimmelskaftet. At some point, he went from wholesaler to grocer. On 11 May 1808, in Adresseavisen, he advertised for skippers who could transport firewood for him from Vordingborg to Copenhagen.

Privateering

Wassard fitted a total of six ships out as privateers during the Gunboat War. He received letters of mark for the following six ships:

Property

On 20 July 1804, he was part of a consortium that purchased Iselingen for 310,000 rigsdaler from county manager Hans Henrich Peter Reyersen. The other members of the consortium were his brother-in-law Just Michael Aagaard, landvæsenskommissær Peder Bech, court bookprinter Johan Fredinand Schultz and Iver Qvistgaard.
In 1808, in Adresseavisen, Wassard advertised for skippers who could transport firewood for him from Vordingborg to Copenhagen. In 1806, Aagaard became the sole owner of Iselingen. In 1810, Wassard acquired Marienlyst from him and the farm was at the same time incorporated as an independent manor.

Personal life

Wassard's first wife was Lucie Emerentze Aagaard 1771-1838). She was the daughter of mayor in Copenhagen Morten Munk and Karen Barfred.
Hans Wassard died on 29 October 1839. He was survived by three sons and a daughter. The eldest son Jacob Gregorius Graahe Wassard was married to customs inspector in Tønne Christian Gotfried Ditlev Lohmann 1911-= was married to Wilhelmine Mathilde Sincel. He inherited Marienlyst Manor after his father's death- The youngest son Mathias Wassard studied law but became a landowner. He was married to Anine Christiane Lohmannm a daughter of his brother-in-law Christian Gotfried Ditlev Lohmann and his first wife Dorothea Magdalena Madsdatter Arboe.