The name of Steen Andersen Bille is closely associated with one extended Bille family of Danish naval officers over several generations.
In a direct line from one Vice-Commandant of the City of Copenhagen in the later 17th century, a long list of distinguished Danish naval officers emerged â including six admirals, two commanders and six captains. Many of these had the same name as their progenitor.
Progenitor
Colonel and Vice-Commandant of Copenhagen, Steen Andersen Bille (1624âÂÂ1698).
Family tree
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List
- Bendix Lasson Bille (23 November 1723 â 5 October 1784), rear admiral.
- Daniel Ernst Bille (7 April 1711 â 25 February 1790), rear admiral.
- Daniel Ernst Bille (22 September 1770 â 24 February 1807), captain.
- Ernst Wilhelm Bille (9 September 1795 â 15 March 1821), senior lieutenant; unmarried.
- Just Bille (1670âÂÂ1749), captain.
- Just Bille (13 March 1744 â 17 January 1802), commander; no issue.
- Mathias Bille (17 February 1736 â 17 March 1782), captain
- Michael Bille (14 May 1680 â 2 May 1756), admiral.
- Michael Johannes Petronius Bille (8 November 1769 â 27 March 1845), rear admiral.
- Steen Andersen Bille (1624âÂÂ1698), colonel.
- Steen Andersen Bille (27 March 1725 â 23 September 1748), junior lieutenant; unmarried.
- Steen Andersen Bille (23 August 1751 â 15 April 1833), admiral; actions: Action of 16 May 1797, Battle of Copenhagen, Gunboat War.
- Steen Andersen Bille (5 December 1797 â 2 May 1883), vice admiral.
- Steen Andersen Bille (24 July 1830 â 3 June 1905), captain.
- Søren Adolph Bille (4 June 1775 â 12 September 1819), captain.
Others
Family burial plot
Many members of the Bille family from Steen Andersen Bille (1751âÂÂ1833) and his wife onwards are buried at the Cemetery of Holmen (Danish: Holmens KirkegÃÂ¥rd) in Copenhagen.
Bille
Two ships have been named Bille in relatively recent times in the Royal Danish Navy:
- Bille (1946) a torpedo boat with a speed of 29 knots. Decommissioned 1959
- Bille (1976) a Willemoes-class torpedo boat, later fitted with two harpoon missiles. Named after Admiral S A Bille (1751âÂÂ1833)
Notes
References
Citations
- T. A. Topsøe-Jensen og Emil Marquard (1935) âÂÂOfficerer i den dansk-norske Søetat 1660-1814 og den danske Søetat 1814-1932âÂÂ. Volume 1 and Volume 2
- Balsved - Danish Naval History website