Johan Sigismund von Møsting

Johan Sigismund von Mösting (2 November 1759 – 16 September 1843) was a Danish banker and finance minister. He was a key figure in the foundation of Bank of Denmark in 1818. His name is today also associated with Møstings Hus ("Møsting's House"), his former summer residence in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, which is now used as an exhibition space.

Johan Sigismund von Mösting
Johan Sigismund von Mösting, portrayed by Emilius Ditlev Bærentzen (1830s)
Born(1759-11-02)2 November 1759
Died16 September 1843(1843-09-16) (aged 83)
Resting placeFrederiksberg Ældre Kirkegård
NationalityDanish
Alma materUniversity of Copenhagen
Occupation(s)Civil servant, politician
Known forDanmarks Nationalbank
Møstings Hus
AwardsOrder of the Elephant

Early life and education

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Johan Sigismund von Mösting was born at Nygård on the island of Møn. His father was Frederik Christian von Møsting who was governor of the island. Johan Sigismund von Mösting studied jurisprudence at University of Copenhagen, graduating in 1782.[1]

Career

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1813 he became director of the Danish Reichsbank. He subsequently served as Denmark's minister of finance until 1831, president of the Chamber of Finance and Prime Minister of the Danish Kings. In 1838 he served as Director of the King's library.[2]

Cape Møsting in Greenland was named after him in 1829 by Lieutenant Wilhelm August Graah (1793–1863).[3]

Astronomy

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He helped promote interest in astronomy and was a significant figure in the founding of the scientific journal Astronomische Nachrichten. The Mösting crater on the Moon is named after him.[4][5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ About Johan Sigismund von Møsting, Dansk Statsminister (in Danish). GWNI. 2 November 1759. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  2. ^ Hamel, Jürgen (August 11–15, 1998). "Heinrigh Christian Schumaker – mediator between Denmark and Germany; Centre of Scientific Communication in Astronomy". Proceedings of the Wessel Symposium at The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters. Copenhagen: Kgl. Danske Videnskabernes Selskab, 2001. p. 111. ISBN 87-7876-236-7.
  3. ^ W. A. Graah, Narrative of an Expedition to the East Coast of Greenland, London, 1837, p. 67
  4. ^ Dreyer, J. L. E. (1911). "The origin of the 'Astronomische Nachrichten'". The Observatory. 34: 162. Bibcode:1911Obs....34..162D.
  5. ^ Blue, Jennifer (2007-07-25). "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature". USGS. Retrieved 2007-08-05.