Joachim Wedell-Neergaard


Joachim Wedell-Neergaard, née Wedell-Wedellsborg was a Danish diplomat, landowner and chamberlain. The son of Gustav Wedell-Wedellsborg and Louise Elise Henriette Bruun de Neergaard, on 19 June 1893 he was granted royal permission to carry the name Wedell-Neergaard. He had that same year succeeded his maternal grandfather as owner of Svenstrup Manor at Køge. He was president of the Danish Forest Association from 1906 to 1916.

Early life and career

He was born on 11 January 1862 in Næstved where his father Gustav, Baron Wedell-Wedellsborg, a son of Joachim, Baron Wedell-Wedellsborg, served as a first lieutenant in the Dragoon Regiment. His mother, Louise Elise Henriette Bruun de Neergaard, a daughter of Joachim Bruun de Neergaard of Svenstrup Manor, died when he was just two years old. His father resigned from the army the following year to lease Overdrevsgård, a farm under his father-in-law's estate.
Wedell-Neergaard completed his schooling in 1881 and graduated from the University of Copenhagen in political science in 1886. He then worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both at home and abroad.

Landowner

Wedell-Neergaard succeeded his maternal grandfather as the owner of Svenstrup in 1893. He immediately launched a number of construction projects and significantly improved the management of the land. He took a particular interest in forestry.
He publishedSvensirup. El sjællandsk Gods' Historie with contributions by himself and other writers.

Other activities

Wedell-Neergaard as president of the Danish Forest Association in 1906–16. He was chairman of the local parish council in 1898-1908 and a member of the Country Council in 1901–16. He was director of Carlsen-Langes Legatstiftelse.
He wrote a number of article about forestry, including contributions to Dansk Skovforening 1888-1913. He was made an honorary member of the Danish Forest Association in 1916 and of the Swedish Forest Association in 1919.

Personal life

Wedell-Neergaard married Countess Henny Caroline Julie Moltke, a daughter of Christian, Count Moltke and Caroline A., Countess Danneskiold-Samsøe, on 21 July 1896 at Lystrup Manor.
Wedell-Neergaard died on 4 January 1926 and is buried at Borup Cemetery. He left two children. The daughter Else Louise Thalia, Baronesse Wedell-Neergaard married Tage Rudolph Baron Reedz-Thott. The son Christian, Baron Wedell-Neergaard succeeded his father as owner of Svenstrup. He married Manon Christiane Olga Schimmelmann,

Accolade

Wedell-Neergaard was created a Member of the Royal Gunt in 1897 and chamberlain in 1914. He was created a Knight in the Order of the Dannebrog in 1896 and a Commander of the Second Class in 1924. He received the Cross of Gonour in 1918.