Danish shipbuilders in the Age of Sail This list, arranged by year, presents builders of Danish warships from the late 17th century to mid-19th century. It names the Heads of Naval Construction and includes lesser shipbuilders to the Danish Royal Navy. It does not include purely commercial shipbuilders.
;Before 1673 Rubbens built HDMS Sophia Amalia launched in 1650 in Christiana. ;1673–1739
Thies Hermansen v.d. Borgh: credited with only one ship viz Christianus Quintus, a ship-of-the-line
Schøits credited with the building of the frigate Ørnen,sometimes called Sorte Ørn, launched in 1694
Francis Sheldon Tree Löver and Nordstiernen both ships-of-the-line
Henrik Span e.g. Dannebroge and Dronning Lovisa : both ships-of-the-line
Ole Judichær 1692–1727 e.g. Fridericus Quartus : ship-of-the-line. He was sacked after a court martial in 1727.
Rasmus Krag 1726–1730. Printz Friderich
Knud Benstrup 1729–1738 Fabrikmestercourt martialed and imprisoned Also :da:Knud Nielsen Benstrup
Lauritz Bragenæs appointed Fabrikmester with Benstrup, but died same year.
Diderich de Thurah 1738–1758 studied with, and worked under, Knud Benstrup. He conspired against Benstrup, but proved an unworthy successor as Fabrikmester. He was also an artist and translator of religious texts.
;1739–1810
Formation of the Construction Committee in 1739
C. F. Petersen 1740
M. Thomas Snellgrove 1740 two barges
Laurent Barbé 1740–1747 effectively Fabrikmester while Thurah held this office.
Andreas Gerner e.g. Fyen ship-of-the-line
Povel Brock 1742–1753 ten gunboats, one barge and one trading ship.
P. Kiønig 1743–1759 six trading ships, five gunboats, one barge and two frigates.
A. Eskildsen e.g. Fortuna two or three masted vessel
A. Turesen e.g. Christiansborg frigate; Ebenetzer : ship-of-the-line
Frederik Michael Krabbe Fabrikmester
Gad one brig Postillionen and one trading ship.
Henrik Gerner 1772–1787 Fabrikmester
Erich Eskildsen – unnamed armed trading ships
C. Høyer e.g.Cron Prindcesse Lovisa Augusta trading ship
I. Halkier 1781–1793 Friderichsdahl trading ship, Friderichsort gunboat
Ernst Wilhelm Stibolt 1788–1796 Fabrikmester
Frantz Hohlenberg 1796–1803 Fabrikmester
;1804 and later
Position of Fabrikmester unfilled 1804–1810
P. Eskildsen - No 5 gunboat and No 1 schooner
Larsen - the five gunboats Frederikssund, Helsingør, Næstved, Roeskilde, & Saltholmen built in 1805 and 1806. Only Næstved survived the Battle of Copenhagen
Dahlman e.g. Corsøer and Dragøe, and six other gunboats
Andreas Schifter 1814–1843 Fabrikmester and Vice Admiral
Grove 1838–1844
Madsen One small boat only attributed
;Steam From 1824 to 1830 ten steam-powered warships entered service. See Orlogsværftet for history after 1830.
Construction Committee
In Danish Konstruktionskommissionen Prior to 1739 all warship design in the Danish Naval dockyards at Holmen, Copenhagen, required royal approval. Shipbuilding was considered an art rather than a science. Part of the committee's remit was to ensure the proper education of promising young naval officers in all aspects of ship construction and, to this end, the commission would send officers on extended study tours to the other naval powers of Europe to learn not only of recent advances in ship building but also harbour design and maintenance, defence works, dykes, and flood management. Other scientific advances, mechanical and technical inventions not directly related to naval matters were also noted - occasionally, a little espionage was required. In 1742 the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences was established in Copenhagen to which the educated officer corps of the Danish navy contributed much useful debate. Apprentice ship builders would return from their foreign tours often to become members of the Construction Committee and to lecture at the Sea Cadet Academy on shipbuilding. Some would eventually become the head of naval construction, Fabrikmester, a position which required not only professional expertise but also political and personal qualities of leadership. Criticism on grounds of seaworthiness or cost of the designs, or loss of political support made the position of Fabrikmester very stressful for some of the incumbents.
Citations
Gyldendal - Th. Topsøe-Jensen: Knud Benstrup in Danish Biographical Leksikon, 3. edition, 1979-84. accessed 27 August 2019
Royal Danish Naval Museum for all warships attributed to a named shipbuilder. From the website follow Database > Avancerede > Set Konstructør to > Søg For particular types of ships, follow the same path, but set the filter accordingly.
Royal Danish Naval Museum -
Royal Danish Naval Museum -
Salmonsens konversationsleksikon / Anden Udgave / Bind XIII: Jernbaneret—Kirkeskat /
T. A. Topsøe-Jensen og Emil Marquard “Officerer i den dansk-norske Søetat 1660-1814 og den danske Søetat 1814-1932“. Two volumes. Download .
