Jørgen Iversen Dyppel
| Jørgen Iversen Dyppel | |
|---|---|
| 1st Governor of The Danish West Indies | |
|
In office May 26, 1672 – July 4, 1680 |
|
| Succeeded by | Nicolai Esmit |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
February 25, 1638 Helsingør, Denmark |
| Died | 1683 Atlantic ocean |
| Spouse(s) | 1st wife: Birgitte Pedersdatter 2nd wife: Margrethe Christensdatter |
Jørgen Iversen Dyppel (February 25, 1638 – 1683), also called George Iversen or Ifversen, or sometimes Doppel in Knox, was the first governor of the renewed establishment of St. Thomas in the Danish West Indies, from 1672 to 1680. His rule was marked by the work to construct a functioning colony and the difficulties of such a task.
Dyppel was born in Helsingør, Denmark as the son of a baker from Holstein or Sønderjylland and Else Pedersdatter. The name Dyppel comes from Dybbøl in Southern Jutland.
After Dyppel's education, he went to the West Indies as an indentured servant. Krarup presumes he went with Carib. Partie's ship in 1654.
In the West Indies, Dyppel became a clerk with a British trader on Saint Christopher (Saint Kitts). In 1660, he and 3 Zeelandic merchants (most importantly Jan Basselaer) founded a trading company. During the next five years, Dyppel prospered and secured a small fortune. Upon a return trip to Europe in 1665, the British captured Dyppel's ship (according to Krarup, because he was unaware of the Anglo-Dutch War).
Dyppel went to Denmark, and had audiences with Frederick III of Denmark in the hopes of recovering the lost goods, which amounted to a value of 3000 rdl. He drafted a letter to Charles II of England, but never sent it due to the rising tension between Denmark and England. While in Denmark, Dyppel published the 1670 book Fire Sparetimers Fructer, a motivational treatise concerning piety and introspection. Krarup mentions that he cannot have been entirely destitute, as the publishing of such a book would likely be a substantial expense with little monetary reward. The same year, Dyppel married Birgitte Pedersdatter. The marriage took place in Dyppel's home, which at the time was only considered for the higher classes.
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