Ulrik Christian Kaas

Ulrik Christian Kaas (21 April 1729 22 March 1808) was a Danish naval officer who rose to the rank of admiral.

Personal life Ulrik Christian Kaas was born 21 April 1729 in Copenhagen, died 22 March 1808, also in Copenhagen. He was the son of Ulrich Kaas On 6 October 1766 at Ormslev,

In 1780 he was appointed chamberlain at the court and from 1781 to 1783 he was Adjutant General to the monarch . In 1801 he was awarded the Order of the Dannebrog 31 March 1755 brought promotion to Senior Lieutenant and orders to the frigate Christiansborg on a voyage to the West Indies, returning in 1756. In December 1758 Kaas was further promoted to Lieutenant Captain and served on the ship-of-the-line Fyen on convoy duties to and from the Mediterranean. Copenhagen, In escorting a convoy of Danish merchant ships from Port Mahon, the convoy called at Gibraltar to replenish water supplies and during the time in port a duel was fought between two officers of the Oldenborg regiment who were taking passage on his ship from Port Mahon. The survivor, one Captain Bezancene, fled over the border to Spain. He reported from Lisbon on the outward voyage of severe storm damage and the loss of both fore mast and main mast. As the voyage continued 84 crew members were lost to scurvy and dysentery, which led (on his return to Denmark) to an investigation of Ulrik Kaas' management of the ship. Although Kaas was found blameless of mismanagement, the rations and treatment of the crews in the Royal Danish Navy improved noticeably. In the return from Cape Town, his crew's health restored, he convoyed a total of five merchant ships.

On the last day of 1781 Kaas was promoted to Commodore with some further commands at sea. In the Theatre War with Sweden, Kaas took command of the sea defences of the naval base at Copenhagen but left after a short period to his final posting as head of the Customs Service. Whilst in post at the Customs Service he achieved flag rank with promotion to counter admiral in 1790, vice admiral in 1797 and full admiral in 1804.

Death Ulrik Christian Kaas was still head of the Customs Service at the time of his death - 22 March 1808. He is buried in the chapel of the naval church in Copenhagen, Holmens Kirke.