Christian Henrik Arendrup

Christian Henrik Arendrup (25 March 1837 – 1913) was Governor-General of the Danish West Indies from 1881 to 1893.

Biography Arendrup was born at Frederikshavn in Jutland, Denmark. He was the son of Christian Rasmus Arendrup, councilor of Fyens Stift, and Nanna Marie Henne, the daughter of a marine Commander.

Education In 1856, Arendrup graduated from Sorø Academy (Sorø Akademi) on the island of Zealand and the following year, he started at the Royal Danish Military Academy (Hærens Officersskole) where he graduated as Engineering Second Lieutenant à la suite. He went to Fredericia in 1861 to join preparations for the impending war with the German Confederation.

Governor of the Danish West Indies On 1 April 1881, Colonel Arendrup was pronounced Governor of the Danish West Indies. He landed on St Thomas on 15 April 1881. By the Colonial Law of 27 November 1883 he was required to reside six months a year in St. Thomas and the other half a year in St. Croix.

Later life In 1893 he left the governor's post. He was promoted to Major General in 1900 and re-entered as Chief Inspector and Head of the Engineering Corps. He was dismissed from the military service in 1905. He was appointed an Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order by King Edward VII on the occasion of the King's visit to Copenhagen. He worked as the chairman of Danish Red Cross.

Family Arendrup was married to Almira Kjellerup (1841–1924), the daughter of Anders A. Kjellerup, former councilor in the Danish West Indies.