Peter Jansen Wessel (alt. spelling Peder), better known as Tordenskiold (lit. "thundershield"), (October 28, 1690 – November 12, 1720), was an eminent Norwegian naval officer in the service of the King of Denmark-Norway. He rose to the rank of Vice-Admiral in the Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy for his services in the Great Northern War. Born in Trondheim, Peter Wessel travelled to Copenhagen in 1704, and was employed in the navy.
He won a name for himself through audacity and courage, and was ennobled as Peter Tordenskiold by king Frederick IV of Denmark in 1716. His greatest exploit came later that year, as he destroyed the supply fleet of Charles XII of Sweden at the Battle of Dynekilen.
In 1720, he was killed in a duel. In Denmark as well as in Norway he is probably considered the most famous naval hero, and he is featured in the national anthems of both countries. His was an unusually successful rise in rank, considering he died when he was only 30 years old.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Tordenskjold
Peter Wessel Tordenskiold, painted by Balthasar Denner (1719).
Peter Wessel «Tordenskiold», født 28. oktober 1690 i Trondheim som Peter (Pitter) Janssen Wessel. Han døde i duell 12. november 1720 i Gleidingen i fyrstbispedømmet Hildesheim (Tyskland). Han var en norsk sjøoffiser som tjenestegjorde i den danske orlogsflåten under Den store nordiske krig (1700-1721).
Danmark og Norge var på denne tiden i union, noe som betød at den danske orlogsflåten stod for sjøforsvaret av både Danmark og Norge. Wessel steg raskt i gradene og ble også adlet for sine bedrifter.
I dag er han mest kjent som Tordenskiold, navnet han tok som adelsmann. Han er særlig kjent for slaget i Dynekilen, for erobringen av Marstrand og for angrepet på Göteborg.
Kilde: http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tordenskiold
