Jump to content

Anna Maria Engsten

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Rackham (talk | contribs) at 11:26, 8 July 2020. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The Battle of Svensksund

Anna Maria Jansdotter Engsten (1762 – fl. 1790) was awarded with a medal in silver for Valour in Battle at Sea by King Gustav III of Sweden for her acts during the Russo-Swedish war of 1788–1790.

Engsten was a maid to the master mariner of the Swedish fleet, G.A. Leijonancker. During the retreat from Viborg and Björkösund, she was evacuated with five sailors in a boat filled with food supplies and the captain's belongings. They were shot at by the Russian fleet, which killed a sheep and caused a leak. The sailors abandoned the boat, but she stayed behind, determined to steer the boat to safety. She did so singlehandedly, although the boat required at least two people to steer, a mission she succeeded with. This was confirmed by Major Scharff. When the King was told about this, he awarded her a medal in silver for Bravery in Battle at Sea as well as a sum of 50 riksdaler. This was paid out on 15 March 1791.

See also

References

  • Cristopher von Warnstedt, Medaljerna för Tapperhet until Sjöss (1974) Forum navale. 29. (The medals of Valour at Sea) (Swedish)
  • Wilhelmina Stålberg (1866). Engsten, Anna Maria. Anteckningar om svenska qvinnor. (Notes on Swedish women) (Swedish)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Anna_Maria_Engsten&oldid=966657899"