Frederik Treschow

Vilhelm Frederik Treschow (15 September 1786 – 2 April 1869 was a Danish supreme court attorney, politician, landowner and philanthropist. He founded Treschows Stiftelse in Copenhagen.

Early life and education

Frederik Treschow was born in Copenhagen to Supreme Court justice Michael Treschow (1741-1816) he Christina E. Wasserfall (1753-1823). He graduated from Roskilde Cathedral School in Roskilde in 1803 after initially attending the Metropolitan School in Copenahgen. He studied law at the University of Copenahgen under the guidance of Anders Sandøe Ørsted and graduated in 1806.

Career

He worked for Den kongelige Landsoverret and Hof- og Stadsret from 1909 and became a supreme court attorney in 1811. Treschow was considered one of the best barristers of his generation. He had many clients in the business world and represented the Danish Asia Company in a number of cases about the Danish West Indies.

IIn 1820-21, he defended Jacob Jacobsen Dampe and in 1825-26 he represented Grundtvigs against H.N. Clausen in a case about defamation and paid his fine of 100 Danish rigsdaler.

In 1828, he was appointed procurator fiscal. He prosecuted C.N. Davids in 1836 and Orla Lehmanns in 1842 before resigning in 1846 when the government against his advice insisted on continuing the trial against the speakers at the Student Meeting of 1845 (Orla Lehmann, H.F. Poulsen and Frederik Helweg) who were all found not guilty.

In 1828-33 and again in 1840-45, 1849–54 and 1858–63, he represented Bank of Denmark (from 1832 as chairman) and became a member of the commission in the so-called Twelfth Million Case in 1838.

Landowner

In 1828, he acquired Brahesborg on the island of Funen. In 1835, he also acquired the former countship of Laurvig in Norway with Fritzøe Ironworks. He modernized the management of the estate and founded the Vilhelmsborg estate in 1846–47 .

In 1854, he ceded the two estates to his two sons. His adopted step son Frederik Wilhelm Treschow received Brahesborg while his son Michael Treschow received Frizøe where he already acted as manager.

Politician

Treschow participated in the work leading to the adoption of the Constitution of Denmark as a representative appointed by the king. He was a member of Landstinget from 1849 until 1863.

Philanthropy

The site was one of two homes for needy women which built by the politician and supreme court attorney Frederik Treschow. He administered numerous trusts, including Admiral Winterfeldts Stiftelse "Trøstens Bolig" which provided affordable housing for needy women. This may have inspired him to build similar facilities at his own expense. The first was built in the courtyard behind the Admiral building in 1847. The next was built in Christianshavn and consisted of two buildings completed in 1853 and 1857 to designs by Christian Tybjerg. In 1859, Treschow founded Det Treschow'ske Fideikommis (The Treschow Foundation)).

Honorary titles and awards

He was appointed justitsråd in 1824, etatsråd in 1829, konferensråd in 1846 and gehejmekonferensråd in 1854.

He became a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog in 1838 and received the Cross of Honour of the Order of the Dannebrog in 1840. He became a Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog in 1848 and was awarded the Grand Cross of the Dannebrog in 1850.