Poul Abraham Lehn

Poul Abraham Lehn (9 October 1732 – 24 October 1804), Baron of Lehn and Baron of Guldborgland, was a feudal baron of the Danish and Norwegian nobility and one of the largest landowners of his time in Denmark. His father was an estate owner and collector of books and art. In 1731, Abraham Lehn and his brother Johan Lehn (1705–1760) had been ennobled; this made Poul Abraham Lehn noble as well when he was born in 1732. In 1775, he purchased Orebygaard.

In 1780 and 1784, based on his family estates, Lehn was made feudal baron of the Barony of Lehn and of the Barony of Guldborgland, respectively. The Barony of Guldborgland was established in 1784 by combining the Berritzgaard and Orebygaard estates; it became a freehold property in 1922.

In 1784, Baron Poul Abraham Lehn acquired Lungholm. In 1803, Højbygaard and Lungholm were converted into an entailed estate (stamhus) under the name Baroniet Sønderkarle for his daughter, Johanne Frederikke Lehn. The legal effect of a stamhus was that the estate could neither be sold, mortgaged, or divided between heirs.

Personal life On 22 May 1761, he married Erica Christine de Cicignon (1744–1796) at Nakkebølle. She was the daughter of Johan Frederik de Cicignon (1701–1765). They had the following children: Johan Lehn (1763–1766) Sophie Amalie Rantzau-Lehn, Baroness of Lehn and of Guldborgland (1764–1834), married Hans Rantzau (1764–1808), who adopted the name Rantzau-Lehn and inherited the baronies; issue Margrethe Krabbe Lehn, Baroness of Lehn and of Guldborgland (1766–1789), married Hartvig Gottfried von Barner (1763–1811); issue Erica Christine Lehn, Baroness of Lehn and of Guldborgland (1771–1804) Elisabeth Catharina Lehn, Baroness of Lehn and of Guldborgland (1772–1802), married (1) Caspar Hermann von Krogh of Søholt; no issue; (2) (1764–1831); issue, who adopted the name Bertouch-Lehn and was made Baron of Sønderkarle Johanne Frederikke Lehn, Baroness of Lehn and of Guldborgland (1775–1805) married Frederik Wallmoden of Fuglsang Manor. Baron Poul Abraham Lehn died on 24 October 1804 at one of his estates, Hvidkilde. He was buried in Sørup.