Henri Konow
Encyclopedia
Henri Konow was an officer in the Danish
navy, and the last governor of the Danish West Indies
, overseeing the transfer of administration to the United States of America. He was born in Copenhagen
, the son of consul Hans Jacob Hesselberg Konow and Ida Marie West.
Konow started his career in 1879 as a cadet
in the Danish navy, advancing to second lieutenant
after 4 years. He married Jacobine Cathrine Margrethe Worsaae on 21 October 1892. In 1893, he published an autobiography.
By World War I
, Konow had advanced to commander
, and was in charge of the Valkyrie, stationed at the Danish West Indies. On 3 October 1916, he was named acting governor, to oversee the transfer of authority to the United States on 31 March 1917.
During the Easter Crisis of 1920
, Konow was Foreign Minister
and Defence Minister of Denmark
in the Cabinet of Otto Liebe
.
In 1923, Konow was promoted to vice admiral
and he retired on 7 February 1927.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
navy, and the last governor of the Danish West Indies
Danish West Indies
The Danish West Indies or "Danish Antilles", were a colony of Denmark-Norway and later Denmark in the Caribbean. They were sold to the United States in 1916 in the Treaty of the Danish West Indies and became the United States Virgin Islands in 1917...
, overseeing the transfer of administration to the United States of America. He was born in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, the son of consul Hans Jacob Hesselberg Konow and Ida Marie West.
Konow started his career in 1879 as a cadet
Cadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
in the Danish navy, advancing to second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
after 4 years. He married Jacobine Cathrine Margrethe Worsaae on 21 October 1892. In 1893, he published an autobiography.
By World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Konow had advanced to commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
, and was in charge of the Valkyrie, stationed at the Danish West Indies. On 3 October 1916, he was named acting governor, to oversee the transfer of authority to the United States on 31 March 1917.
During the Easter Crisis of 1920
Easter Crisis of 1920
The Easter Crisis of 1920 was a constitutional crisis and a significant event in the development of constitutional monarchy in Denmark. It began with the dismissal of the elected government by the reigning monarch, King Christian X, a reserve power which was granted to him by the Danish constitution...
, Konow was Foreign Minister
Foreign Minister of Denmark
The Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs handles Denmark's foreign affairs. The Foreign Minister works in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.The current Minister for Foreign Affairs is Villy Søvndal.-External links:***...
and Defence Minister of Denmark
Defence Minister of Denmark
The Defence Minister of Denmark is the Danish political minister as the head of the Danish Ministry of Defence, and is responsible for the Danish military, keeping Denmark defended against external threats, waging war on behalf of Denmark , and the surveillance of the Danish sea and airspace.The...
in the Cabinet of Otto Liebe
Otto Liebe
Carl Julius Otto Liebe was Prime Minister of Denmark 30 March 1920 to 5 April 1920. His cabinet was called the Cabinet of Otto Liebe.Otto Liebe was a lawyer and the son of a conservative politician...
.
In 1923, Konow was promoted to vice admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
and he retired on 7 February 1927.