Johannes Rehling

Johannes Rehling (17 August 1775- 18 June 1841) was a Danish colonial administrator. He served as governor of Frederiksnagore from 1835 to 1838 and as governor of Tranquebar from 1838 to 1841.

Early life and education Rehling was born on 17 August 1775 in Egeberg, Odsherred, the son of Lutheran minister Andreas Johan Rehling (1790-) and Susanne Franck Beckmann (1789-). His father was later appointed as provost of Frederiksborg Chapel and parish priest of Hillerød. Rehling matriculated from Frederiksborg Latin School in 1793. He earned a law degree from the University of Copenhagen in 1803.

Career On 7 November 1804, Rehling was appointed as bailiff (byfoged) and chief of police of Tranquebar. On 5 May 1805, he departed from Copenhagen on board the Kronprins Frederik. The ship arrived at Frederiksnagore on 10 December. On 3 January 1805, he continued to Tranquebar on board the Twee Gisberts, arriving there two days later. During the British occupation of Tranquebar in 1808—15, Rehling remained in his office.

Rehling died on 18 June 1841 in Tranquebar. He survived two of his sons. His widow and four of his children returned to Denmark. Three sons remained in India. The sons Herman (1814-1872) and Ditleff (1721-1873) became indigo planters in Bengal. The son Johan Andreas Rehling (1819-1867) settled as atrader and shipowner in Batavia. Mette Marie Rehling settled in Helsingør after moving back to Denmark. The son Otto Regling (1712-1892) became a councilman and manager of Sparekassen for Helsingør og Omegn (1862-1892). The son Gerhardt Rehling (1715-1895) became bailiff (herredsfoged) of Hads Herred.

In 1823, Rejling bought a house on Kongensgade at auction. The building is now home to a girls' school. Some of the Rehling family's letters from India have been published.