1780day.year
Jørgen Jørgensen
(1780 - 1841)
Danish adventurer
Danish adventurer
Danish adventurer and naval officer known for briefly declaring himself king of Iceland and his varied exploits.
Jørgen Jørgensen, born in 1780 in Copenhagen, began his career in the Danish navy before becoming a seafaring entrepreneur. In 1809, during a voyage to Iceland, he led a coup that deposed the Danish governor and declared Iceland a republic with himself as protector. His rule was short-lived, and he was arrested and returned to Denmark. After further adventures as a convict, explorer, and naturalist in Australia and Tasmania, Jørgensen authored memoirs of his exploits. His life story, marked by daring and scandal, remains a remarkable chapter in the Age of Exploration.
1780
Jørgen Jørgensen