Lars Benzon (July 21, 1687 – October 5, 1741) was a landowner and a Deputy Director (''deputeret'') in the General Affairs Commission of the Danish Royal Navy.

Biography

Lars Benzon was born at Sæbygård Manor on the island of

Zealand Zealand ( ) is the largest and most populous islands of Denmark, island in Denmark proper (thus excluding Greenland and Disko Island, which are larger in size) at 7,031 km2 (2715 sq. mi.). Zealand had a population of 2,319,705 on 1 Januar ...

, Denmark. He was the son of General Counselor of the Admiralty Council, Niels Benzon (1646–1708) and Else Scavenius (1660–89). He was the brother of Jacob Benzon and

Peder Benzon Peder Benzon (26 July 1684 – after 13 May 1735) was a Denmark, Danish landowner and Supreme Court justice. He was the owner of seven manors on Zealand at the time of his death in 1735. Early life Bentzon was born in Copenhagen, the son of Danis ...

. In 1717, while he was working as a personal secretary (''kammerjunker''), he received an appointment as deputy in the General Commissioner, a high-ranking title he held during the times of Count Frederik Danneskiold-Samsøe (1707-1770). Danneskiold was a grandson of King

Christian V of Denmark Christian V (15 April 1646 – 25 August 1699) was King of Denmark and Norway from 1670 until his death in 1699. Well-regarded by the common people, he was the first king anointed at Frederiksborg Castle chapel as absolute monarch since the dec ...

and served as secretary council (''

Geheimrat was the title of the highest advising officials at the imperial, royal, or princely courts of the Holy Roman Empire, who jointly formed the ''Geheimer Rat'' reporting to the ruler. The term remained in use during subsequent monarchic reigns in Ge ...

'') from 1729 and Lieutenant admiral from 1743. In 1721, Benzon assisted in drafting new approach to accounting for the Danish navy. In 1731 he became a royal advisor (''konferensråd''). In 1738, an anonymous complaint was made against Danneskiold's administrative approach, which resulted in reports in favour of Danneskiold from the admiralty and the commissariat. Despite these, Benzon ruled against Danneskiold. However, King Christian VI sided with Danneskiold, sharpy rebuking Benzon. Danneskiold called for Benzon's dismissal. Although the king maintained his authority, Benzon resigned his post.

Personal life

On 12 March 1721, he married Charlotte Amalie von Adeler (1703-1724). In 1738, Benzon retired to his estates (Sæbygård,

Hagestedgaard Hagestedgaard is a manor house and estate located at the village of Hagested, near Holbæk, Holbæk Municipality, some 60 kilometres west of Copenhagen, Denmark. The estate traces its history back to the 13th century but the current asymmetrical ...

and Kornerup). He died in 1742.

References

18th-century Danish landowners 1687 births 1742 deaths Benzon family {{Denmark-bio-stub