Nicolai Elias Tuxen

Captain Nicolai Elias Tuxen (21 November 1810 – 10 December 1891) was a Royal Danish Navy officer and politician. He was the technical director of the Orlogsværftet in Copenhagen and a member of the Danish Constituent Assembly. Tuxen was also the father of painter Laurits Tuxen.

Early life Tuxen was born in Fladstrand, the son of first lieutenant and later commander lieutenant Peter Mandrup Tuxen (1783-1838) and Elisabeth M. Simonsen (1786-1867). He was the elder brother of Georg Emil Tuxen and Johan Cornelius Tuxen.

Career Tuxen followed the family tradition, enrolling at the Royal Danish Naval Cadet Academy in 1822. He graduated with Gerner's Medal in 1829. After a voyage to the Danish West Indies with the brig St. Jan in 1831-32 he was employed as a teacher of mathematics at the Royal Danish Naval Academy until 1846. He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1839, captain lieutenant in 1847 and captain in 1854. At the time of the 1860 census his home was an apartment at Strandgade No. 30 in Christianshavn. He lived there with his wife, seven of their children (aged seven to 19), one lodger and two maids.

Accolade Tuxen was created a Knight in the Order of the Dannebrog in 1846. In 1851, he was awarded the Cross of Honour. In 1858, he was created a Commander in the Order of the Dannebrog. In 1768, he was also awarded the Medal of Merit.