Background
Peder Schumacher was born at Copenhagen on August 24, 1635 into a wealthy trading family connected with the leading civic, clerical and learned circles in the Danish capital.
Peder Schumacher was born at Copenhagen on August 24, 1635 into a wealthy trading family connected with the leading civic, clerical and learned circles in the Danish capital.
He was prepared for university (at the age of ten) by Jens Vorde. He studied for a time at Queen's College, Oxford.
He traveled a lot. Upon his return to Denmark he was appointed royal librarian in 1663. Through his friendship with Kristoffer Gabel, Schumacher obtained the post of secretary to Frederick III in 1665. He rose from royal councilor to chief secretary and finally to chancellor in 1673. He was ennobled under the title of Count Griffenfeld. As chancellor, Griffenfeld was responsible for extensive reforms, including the establishment of a board of trade for overseas commerce and the solution of Denmark's financial plight. From 1670 to 1676 his attention was almost entirely devoted to foreign affairs; he was responsible for intricate maneuvers to separate Sweden and France. In Louis XIV's Dutch War of 1672-1678 Griffenfeld pursued a policy of neutrality, hoping to reap the benefits of French subsidies and amity with Sweden, but the policy was opposed by Christian V and Denmark attacked Sweden. On land the Danish armies were defeated, but at sea Niels Juel won a spectacular series of victories. Due to the loss of the war, which was blamed on him, and a court intrigue, Griffenfeld was arrested in 1676 and tried for treason on fabricated charges. When on the scaffold, he was pardoned by Christian and kept in prison until his death in Trondheim, March 12, 1699.
Griffenfeld had married Kitty Nansen, the granddaughter of the great Burgomaster Hans Nansen, who brought him half a million rix-dollars. She died in 1672, after bearing him a daughter.