Ernst Heinrich von Schimmelmann

Merchant and politician
Ernst Heinrich von Schimmelmann was a German-Danish politician, businessman and patron of the arts from the richest family in Denmark in the 18th century. Born in Dresden as a son of Heinrich Carl von Schimmelmann, Ernst studied economics and joined his father in the sugar trade with the West Indies and other business ventures. Although he was a slave owner himself, owning slaves and sugar plantation on the Saint Croix and being a shareholder in a company that transported slaves from the Gold Coast, he made a significant contribution to the abolition of slave trade in Denmark. In his famous report he demonstrate that Danish slave trade was inhumane and led to deficits due to high child mortality in the Danish West Indies. Ernst Heinrich was also a passionate politician and during his lifetime performed various functions – he served as Minister of Finance from 1784-1812 and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1824-1831.