Peter von Scholten was a Danish colonial governor who abolished slavery in the Danish West Indies, now known as the U.S. Virgin Islands, in 1848. He made this decision to prevent a slave uprising, and although it is celebrated today, it led to his trial for treason in Denmark, where he was accused of undermining colonial interests.
Peter von Scholten was born on May 17, 1784, in Denmark. Coming from a military family, he embarked on a career in the Danish colonial administration. By 1835, von Scholten had risen through the ranks to become the governor general of the Danish West Indies, which included the three islands of Saint Thomas, Saint John, and Saint Croix.
Von Scholten’s tenure as governor was marked by his progressive approach to colonial administration. He implemented various reforms aimed at improving the living conditions of the enslaved population. These included measures to improve health care, education, and labor conditions.
By the mid-19th century, the abolitionist movement was gaining momentum worldwide. The enslaved population in the Danish West Indies was becoming increasingly restive, inspired by uprisings and emancipation in neighboring colonies.
In neighboring British colonies, the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 had already led to the emancipation of slaves by 1838. These events inspired the enslaved population in the Danish West Indies, fueling their desire for freedom and equality. This rising tide of abolitionist sentiment put significant pressure on colonial governments to reform.
In the 1840s, discussions about abolition in the Danish West Indies had intensified. Von Scholten, who had been advocating for reforms since the 1830s, was in favor of emancipation. At the end, the king of Denmark, King Christian VIII, supported a gradual abolition process, decreeing in 1847 that every child born to an enslaved mother would be free, with complete abolition to follow in 12 years.
However, the enslaved people in the Danish West Indies were unwilling to wait. On July 2, 1848, a slave rebellion erupted on Saint Croix, led by freedman John Gottlieb, also known as “General Buddhoe”. The rebels quickly gained control of Frederiksted, Saint Croix, and by the next morning, approximately 8,000 slaves had joined the uprising.
In response to the rebellion, Peter von Scholten acted decisively. On the afternoon of July 3, 1848, now celebrated as Emancipation Day, he traveled to Frederiksted and declared the immediate and total emancipation of all enslaved people in the Danish West Indies. He then proceeded to Christiansted, where another rebellion had ignited, and spread the news of emancipation across the islands.
While Von Scholten’s bold action was celebrated by the freed people and abolitionists, it provoked outrage among the Danish colonial elite and planters, who saw their economic interests threatened. He was recalled to Denmark later that year, where he faced severe backlash
In 1851, von Scholten was put on trial for treason, accused of exceeding his authority and undermining Danish colonial interests. The trial received a lot of attention and was very controversial, as it brought to light the larger issues surrounding slavery and colonial rule at the time. Ultimately, von Scholten was acquitted of the charges, but the trial tarnished his reputation and he lived the remainder of his life out of the public eye.
Peter von Scholten died on 26 January 1854 in Altona, Holstein (present day Germany), leaving little to his heirs.
Today in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Peter von Scholten is remembered as a hero who took a courageous stand against slavery.
General Buddhoe’s Fate
After the rebellion and emancipation, General Buddhoe was arrested by Danish authorities, accused of instigating the uprising. He was subsequently exiled to Trinidad, where he lived the remainder of his life. Despite this unfortunate outcome, Buddhoe is celebrated as a hero and a symbol of resistance in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and his contributions are commemorated annually on Emancipation Day.
Source:
https://en.natmus.dk/historical-knowledge/historical-themes/danish-colonies/the-danish-west-indies/the-abolition-of-slavery/
