Jens Michelsen Beck

Jens Michelsen Beck (1 January 1721 29 May 1791) was a Danish surveyor, cartographer, landowner and planter. On the island of Saint Croix in the Danish West Indies, he owned the Beck's Grove plantation. Beck later returned to Denmark, settling on Gentoftegård north of Copenhagen. His daughter Christiane was married to Ove Malling.

Early life Beck was born on 1 January 1721 in Nyborg on the island of Funen, the son of Michael Svendsen Beck and Anne Nielsdatter. His father was a shoemaker.

Years on Saint Croix As a young man Beck went to the Danish West Indies to work as a junior assistant for the Danish West India Company. He landed on Saint Thomas on 19 June 1742. In 1743, he transferred to Saint Croix. His salary was then 10 Danish rigsdaler per month. In 1745, he was promoted to senior assistant with a monthly salary of 14 Danish rigsdaler.

Beck created the first town plan for the city of Frederiksted as well as one of the most frequently reproduced historical maps of Saint Croix.

Beck's son Michael returned to the island to take over the plantation but died shortly thereafter in a hurricane that destroyed many of the buildings, crops and forest. In 1782, Beck sold a piece of land in Frederikssted. In 1787, he also decided to sell the estate.

After Beck's death, Gentoftegård was taken over by his son-in-law Ove Malling. He erected a stone with an inscription commemorating his father-in-law on the property. It is now located outside the building Salem and Kløckershave.