Jorgen Jorgenson

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Maureen Withey on 21st April 2025

National Archives. Criminal Petitions. Ref: HO 17/34/21 2 individual petitions (prisoner) dated October 1821 and 1 individual memorial (prisoner) dated Van Dieman's Land 29 August 1834 on behalf of Jorgen Jorgenson [Jorgan Jorgenson] of Copenhagen, Denmark, convicted at the Old Bailey in May 1820, for robbing his lodgings of household furniture - taking away and pledging some bed furniture from ready furnished lodgings. • There is a letter from Jorgenson to Lord Sidmouth enclosing a narrative or pamphlet titled 'A Description of the British Colonies in the South Seas, Their Commercial Advantages, New Zealand Whale and Seal Fisheries, Cape of Good Hope and Colonization in General.' which he wrote unaided in Newgate. He also writes of his wish to go to colonies. • There are also 2 letters from Jorgenson to James Williams regarding his life in Newgate and his good behaviour dated October 1821. • There are 3 letters from Jorgenson to John Capper, all dated October 1821 - one stating that if he gets a pardon he wishes to go to Madagascar and (after reading Dr Cullen's System of Physic and a surgical dictionary) administer the smallpox vaccine rather than stay in Europe; one letter regarding sending a Mr Clarke to see Capper to discover the fate of his petition as he will need to plan his passage to the colonies; a letter of thanks stating he has been pardoned and will go abroad immediately [not pardoned, transported]. • There is also a copy letter from George Luthun dated 17 September 1834 regarding correspondence he received with note from the Danish Minister [wanting] and enclosing memorial from Jorgenson. • A statement by Jorgenson explaining the facts of the case. Grounds for clemency: spent 26 years of his life in the service of this country and wants to go to colonies, but not as transportee, feels his crime is slight compared with others, previous good character before 1811 when he fell into the company of gamesters who frequented the Cannon Coffeehouse and gamesters are 'the greatest villains on the earth', he was an addict - he disapproved of the evil and misery gambling caused but was unable to resist, confinement is a blessing as he has given up cards and gambling, has had time to reflect and improve his mind, good conduct in future, the bed furniture was not taken away or pledged by himself but by James Henry Hunter, a fellow lodger and when prisoner discovered crime he kept quiet under the promise of their return, after beds return he was induced to pledge it again for £2 to help his friend Scott and his family who were in distress, this was no excuse but he had entered into a contract with his landlady to pay for whatever furniture might be missing from his lodgings and he fully intended to replace them. Gaoler's report on cover of petitions (1821) states, 'praying to be allowed to transport himself' and 'has been very useful in the gaol of Newgate under the surgeon'. [Initial sentence: not stated.] Annotated: petitions 1821 - pardon prepared 25 October postponed. Petition 1834 - pardon on condition of not returning to this country 7 March 1835. EH21 Date: 1821 – 1835.

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Tim Flynn on 28th April 2016

Character in "Part an Irishman" by T.S.Flynn http://www.amazon.com.au/Part-Irishman-Regiment-TS-Flynn-ebook/dp/B01D5LBJZ0?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

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AaronRichard on 14th February 2015

Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, the son of a clockmaker who worked for the Danish Royal Family. Jorgenson joined the crew of the British collier ship "Janeon" at age 15, thus beginning his life as a mariner and somewhat eccentric adventurer. He first visited Australia (Port Jackson) in 1800, then in 1801 joined the crew of the Lady Nelson, which explored the area that was to become Hobart. As a member of the crew of the Lady Nelson, he was present for the founding of Risdon Cove and Sullivans Cove. He returned to Europe for a time, during which he visited his family in Denmark, and in 1807 witnessed the bombardment of Copenhagen by the British. He subsequently was given command of a Danish ship called the Admiral Juul, which was captured by the British after he entered battle against the HMS Sappho. As (technically) a prisoner in England, Jorgenson managed to talk his way into an expedition to Iceland which saw him help overthrow the Danish governor of the island, declare Iceland's independence, and install himself as Lord Protector. However, his Icelandic adventure was short-lived, as Danish control of the island was restored a few months later and he was returned to England, where he was found guilty of having breached the terms of his parole while a prisoner-of-war. After his release from prison, he was later employed by the British government as a translator and spy in continental Europe during the later years of the Napoleonic Wars. His life in England was dogged by his periodic alcohol abuses and compulsive gambling, which eventually led to his arrest in 1820 for stealing and selling some bedding from the premises where he was lodging at the time. He was ordered to remove himself from Britain, but upon failing to do so, was put in Newgate Prison and sentenced to death. The death sentence was commuted through the actions of his influential friends, and he was eventually transported to Van Diemen's Land. Upon arrival in 1826, Jorgenson quickly proved himself useful to the colonial authorities and grew to be one of the best-known and most colourful convicts in the colony helping crack a banknote forgery ring, leading expeditions to explore the rugged Tasmanian interior and west coast, and joining the police in helping track down and apprehend livestock thieves, including a gang lead by former convict William Sheldon. As part of the chase of Sheldon's gang, Jorgenson met (and later married) Irish convictwoman Norah Corbett, who had been part of the gang of sheep thieves but agreed to turn crown witness. Jorgenson was also part of the infamous "Black Line" operation designed to clear the remaining Tasmanian Aboriginals in 1830, although his writings show a somewhat sympathetic view (by the standards of the time) towards the indigenous inhabitants. Jorgen and Norah lived a somewhat rocky marriage, although they mostly stayed together. Both descended into alcohol abuse at various times, with many contemporary accounts of Norah and Jorgen having drunken fights in public. He died at the Colonial Hospital in Hobart in 1841, and was buried at the Roman Catholic cemetery (despite not being Catholic himself) next to his wife Norah, who had died some years previously. He is immortalised (as a stylised "King of Iceland") on the stone bridge at Ross. He is also well-documented through his many books, letters and pamphlets which he wrote throughout his lifetime.