Rasmus Krag

Rasmus Krag (1680–1755) was a Danish naval officer who first became a junior lieutenant in 1700 and vice-admiral in 1736. He aspired to be a naval architect but his efforts proved unsatisfactory.

Personal life The son of a tailor, Rasmus Krag was born in Copenhagen about 1680 (or possibly 1677 )

Early career As a cadet in 1698 he served on a convoy with HDMS Hvide Falk to Portugal, and in 1699 to 1700 was in foreign service (which power not recorded), before being commissioned as a junior lieutenant on 30 January 1700. in the Battle of Køge Bay (1710), but complained in 1712 that he had been passed over for promotion In 1728, the construction of two ships according to Krag's drawings for a 50-gun ship was halted by the head of the naval dockyard of Holmen, as differences between the approved drawings and the model prepared from these were found. A team of engineering students, including Knud N. Benstrup, who had just returned from abroad, was asked to comment on Krag's designs. The considered opinion was very restrained but could not hide that the construction suffered from crucial weaknesses. Krag was then removed from the shipbuilding at Holmen.

Later career From 1728 to 1735 he captained several vessels. In 1735 he became a member of a commission to investigate dimensions of masts and round holes in naval ship construction, and was promoted to rear admiral and head of the Danish navy's second division – a promotion which took some by surprise. The following year he rose another degree and then sat on the commission to investigate a number of charges in the court martial of Knud Benstrup. In a minority of one, Krag here voted that Benstrup should receive the death penalty, which in view of the proportions of the case must be interpreted as an act of revenge on Krag's part.

Krag was characterized as an intriguing person with a dubious professional skill. He nevertheless managed to make influential connections and receive patronage, most importantly in his later career from Frederik Danneskiold-Samsøe under whom Krag served as squadron commander in 1746.

Finale After Frederik Danneskiold-Samsøe's fall from grace in 1746, Krag also left the service and retired at the end of that year to Slangerup northwest of Copenhagen, where he died on 6 October 1755.