Steen Andersen Bille

In French service In 1820, Bille returned from the cruise in the West Indies in the frigate Minerva and entered French service along with his older brother Lieutenant Ernst Bille (who died the following year), serving in the ship-of-the-line Colosse in Brazilian waters and on South America's west coast where there was civil turmoil in both Chile and Peru. In 1845 Bille became captain of the corvette Galathea in which he sailed round the world, overseeing the transfer of Tranquebar and Serampore trading posts which had been sold to the British East India Company, and other trade and diplomatic duties. During the voyage part of his crew went in an Indian-built boat Ganges to the Nicobar Islands with the idea of establishing a colony there. This venture was abandoned soon afterwards on the grounds of the unhealthy climate, whereupon the British took over.

Books by S A Bille Fra alle Lande (1869 - 1870) ("From all lands") Korvetten Galatheas Rejse omkring Jorden (1853) ("The corvette Galathea’s voyage round the world") Min Rejse til Kina (1865) ("My Journey to China")