Career
He built the Orupgaard manor house on the Danish island of Falster. The Baron"s oldest son, the politician and landowner, Charles Borre Selby, inherited the estate. Educated by English Benedictine monks in Douai in Flanders, he then entered commerce.
In 1773, he joined William Chippendale"s firm in Copenhagen which had interests in a sugar refinery.
Selby developed a profitable interest in West-Indian trade until 1795 when he bought Bækkeskov and the Bredeshave farm. There, he was successful in introducing English and Flemish methods of farming.
He built a Neoclassical manor at Bækkeskov but surprisingly sold it again in 1805 for reasons unknown. Selby was styled as Baron in 1796.
From his correspondence, it can be seen Selby was a well-educated, gentlemanly figure with an interest in art and aesthetics.
He demonstrated strong affinities with Denmark, donating considerable sums for the reconstruction of its fleet.