Michael Treschow (1741–1816)


Michael Treschow was a Danish Supreme Court justice and prefect of Roskilde County who was ennobled by letter patent in 1812. He was the father of Frederik Treschow.

Early life and education

Michael Treschow was born in Våge in the Gudbrand Valley, Norway which was then part of the Danish-Norwegian double monarchy. He was sent to Copenhagen where he enrolled at University of Copenhagen in 1755 where he initially studied theology but later turned to Latin and law. He graduated in 1764.

Career

Treschow became secretary for the Danish Chancellery and later as secretary for several other prominent government offices as well. In 1771 he was appointed to Supreme Court justice. In 1800 he resigned to assume a position as amtmand of Roskilde County. In 1808, he resigned due to poor health. In 1811, he was part of a commission regarding the improved organisation of the health police.

Other pursuits

In 1771, he became a member of the Royal Society for National History and served as its president in 1798. He wrote a considerable number of articles for its publication Nye danske Magasin.
In 1776-78, he was one of the directors of the Royal Danish Theatre and in 1784 he was member of a commission charged with considering the theatre's organisation.

Titles and awards

He was appointed to justitsråd in 1774, etatsråd in 1779 and konferensråd in 1784. In 1912, he was appointed to Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog and was later that same year ennobled by letter patent.

Family

He married Christina Elisabeth Wasserfall on 8 April 1778. She was the daughter of merchant Peter Wasserfall and the widow after Tyske Kancelli deputy Peter Henningsen. They had the following children: