Jørgen Wichfeld (1729–1797)


Jørgen Wichfeld was a Danish landowner, industrialist and deputy district judge from Lolland-Falster who was ennobled by letters patent on 23 July 1888. He owned Engestofte on Lolland, Ukriksdal and from 1774 to 1787 also Nordfeld on Møn.

Biography

Jørgen Wichmand was born at Engestofte in the island of Lolland as the oldest of two sons of Bertel Wichmand and Bodil Cathrine Wichmand née From. His father was a wealthy merchant from Nykøbing Falster who had acquired the estate on which his son was born in 1727.
Jørgen Wichmand took over Engestofte after his mother's death in 1760. He expanded his holdings by acquiring Ulriksdal in 1766 and also bought Nordfeld on Møn in auctuin in 1774 but sold it again in 1787. He obtained a royal license to open a starch and cosmetic powder factory at Engestofte in 1770.
Jørgen Wichmand and his brother Thomas Frederik Wichmand were ennobled by letters patent with the name Wichfeld on 23 July 1777.
He was a deputy district judge at Lolland-Falsters landsting in 1769-87 and was appointed to etatsråd in 1779.

Legacy

Jørgen Wichfeld never married and had no children. He left his two estates to his nephew Henning Wichfeld with an obligation to turn them into a stamhus. This happened on 8 November 1799.