Peder Tordenskjold

Peter Wessel Tordenskjold, also known as Peter Wessel, Peder Tordenskjold, or Peder Tordenskiold, (October 28, 1691-1720), was an eminent Norwegian naval hero in the service of the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway. He rose to the rank of Vice-Admiral in the Royal Danish Navy for his services in the Great Northern War. His last name translated into English means "Thundershield."

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Born at Trondheim, he was the tenth child of alderman Jan Wessel of Bergen. Wessel was a wild unruly lad who gave his pious parents much trouble, eventually stowing away in a ship bound for Copenhagen. Here, the king's chaplain Dr Peder Jespersen befriended the boy and sent him on a voyage to the West Indies, and finally procured him a vacant cadetship. After further voyages, this time to the East Indies, Wessel was, on the July 7, 1711, appointed 2nd lieutenant in the Royal Danish Navy and shortly afterwards became the captain of a 4-gun sloop Ormen (The Serpent), in which he cruised about the Swedish coast picking up useful information about the enemy. He also commanded the 6-gun vessel Lindorm, and earlier, was 2nd on the 26-gun frigate Postillion.

October 28: October 28 is the 301st day of the year (302nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 64 days remaining....

Norwegian: When used as an adjective, Norwegian refers to anything that originates from Norway. It may refer to more than one article:...

Denmark-Norway: The Kingdom of Denmark-Norway, consisting of Denmark and Norway, including Norway's possessions Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, is a term occasionally used for the two united kingdoms after their amalgamation as one state in 1536. The term Kingdom of Denmark is often used to include Norwa...

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Peder Thordenskjold

Peder Thordenskjold