Johannes Helms

Johannes Helms (November 8, 1828-December 4, 1895) was a Danish writer and schoolmaster who experienced the Three Years' War firsthand.

Biography

Johannes was born on Saturday the 8th of November in the year 1828 in his parents home in Esbønderup County. His father, Søren Bagger Helms (1788-1872), was the local rector and his mother, Nicoline Marie Zeuthen (1789-1870), was her husband's second wife. The Helms household also contained a four year elder brother Jakob Helms who became priest and made extensive reconstruction of several Danish churches.

He graduated from Frederiksborg Gymnasium in 1847 and continued onto Philology at the University of Copenhagen that same year. At the time he was a member of the notorious "Studenter Væbningen"(consisting of university students and a regular substitute for the police). In march of 1850 he joined the Danish army partaking in the nationalistic frenzy erupting in those months. He was promoted to "Fourer"(sergeant)before the battle of Fredericia and received "The Silver Cross" for his actions there. He returned to his studies two-and-a-half year later and continued as a member of the "Student Guard" for the remainder of his student-period.

Career

In 1855, after working as a private teacher, Johannes became teacher at "Domskolen i Sleswig"("The judiciary school of Slesvig"). He had to leave this position due to the War of 1864. In 1867 he was appointed headmaster of Borgerdydsskolen at Christianshavn, a position he held to his death. In 1887 he became "Titulær Professor" at the university and in 1892 he was elected as a member of the "citizenrepresentation" in Copenhagen.

Marriage and children

In 1857, at 28 years of age, he married the ten year younger woman Marie Sophie Hansen, daughter of destitute second-generation accountant Hans Peter Hansen. The couple had four children.

Death and afterward

He died on the fourth of December in the year 1895 and his successor as headmaster was his son-in-law, Peter C.G. Leuning. Many of Johanne's works, particularly the songs, are still in print. "Soldaterliv i Krig og Fred" was published at the 150years day of the breakout of the war in 1848.