Niels Gersdorff

Niels Gersdorff (7 January 1688 - 17 December 1748) was a Danish courtier and government official. He served as diocesan governor of Zealand and county governor of Copenhagen. In 1845 he wrote a topographical description of Copenhagen County (published in 20254.)

Early life and education Gersdorff was born on 7 January 1688 in Hünern, Lower Silesia, as the son of diocesan governor Rudolph Gersdorff (1660-1729) and Judithe Eleonore von Glaubitz (1653-1703).

Career Gersdorff was appointed Overkammerér to Crown Prince Christian. He took part in the crown prince's wedding journey to Saxony. After the wedding, he was appointed the county governor of Husum County. In 1735, he was appointed to the diocesan governor of Zealand and county governor of Copenhagen.

In 1739, Gersdorff was involved in a high-profile legal dispute. The case was triggered by a complaint from a lawyer in Helsingør who believed he had been wronged by Gersdorff and consequently filed a claim for damages. The Supreme Court recognized the validity of the complaint, but Gersdorff addressed the king directly, claiming that the issue was outside the Supreme Court's jurisdiction as it was an administrative matter. Against the explicit advice of Chief Justice Didrik Sechmann, the king followed Gersdorff's view of the case and declared the verdict invalid.

Personal life On 19 December 1721, Gersdorff married Louise von Boineburg (1697-1765). She was a daughter of imperial major-general Herman Frederik v. B. genannt v. Hohenstein til Hambach (died 1703) amd Judith Augusta von Marschalck (died 1729). They were the parents of Christian Rudolph Philip Gersdorff, Nicolaus Maximilian Gersdorff, and Frederik Carl Gersdorff.

In 1733, the king promised Gersdorgff the Barony of Marselisborg once it reverted to the crown, which only happened after his death. Marselisborg was instead presented to his eldest son, Christian Rudolph Philip Gersdorff, and after his death, married but without issue, to his younger brother Nicolaus Maximilian Gersdorff.