Jørgen Iversen Dyppel

Jørgen Iversen Dyppel was the first governor (1672-1680) of the renewed establishment of St. Thomas in the Danish West Indies credited with the foundation of the colony.

Born into the modest family in Helsingør, Dypell went to the West Indies as an indentured servant. There he founded a trading company in a partnership with three Zeelandic merchants and in the following five years he made a small fortune. In 1665 he returned to Europe. After the Danish West India Company was organized in 1670, Dyppel became one of the earliest shareholders and due to his experience in the West Indies affairs the first governor of the company.

Dyppel was responsible for the foundation of the colony, including the work force, construction, the parceling-out of plantations and the production of goods to be sent home to Denmark. He was also responsible for justice and religious education of the planter community and the slaves in the colony.

Due to poor health, he resigned his post in 1680 and returned to Denmark.