page_title: Steen Andersen Bille (1751–1833)
section_title: Battles of Copenhagen
hierarchical_section_title: Steen Andersen Bille (1751–1833) / Battles of Copenhagen
caption_attribution_description: English: At Toldboden (The Customs House), Major General Heinrich Ernst Peymann says goodbye to Vice Admiral Steen Andersen Bille, who is heading out for an attack on the British Navy on 17 August, 1807.
context_page_description: Steen Andersen Bille (1751–1833) was a Danish naval officer and a member of the Bille family. He rose to the rank of admiral and became a Privy Counselor during the period of Denmark's policy of "armed neutrality" following the Gunboat War. He was instrumental in the rebuilding of the Danish Navy after 1814.
context_section_description: On return to Denmark in 1801, Bille was again in action in the Battle of Copenhagen.  His position was on the left, i.e. northern, end of the line, which included the ships-of-the-line Danmark and Trekroner, the frigate Iris, brigs Sarpen and Nidelven and a large contingent of gunboats – none of which saw serious action that day.  After the battle had been raging on the southern end for close on four hours, the British Rear Admiral Thomas Graves came north with his five ships-of-the-line and three of them ran aground. The British having negotiated a ceasefire after their victory over the Danes, refloated their ships and withdrew.
  On 28 December 1804, with further promotion to Commodore (Kommandør), Bille became deputy in the Admiralty College.  He also held positions on the African Consulate Commission, the Quarantine Commission and the Naval Defence Commission.
  After war flared with Britain again in 1807, Bille was named as commander of Danish naval defence under the overall command of Ernst Peymann. Peymann performed poorly against the British army that had landed near Svannemølle and capitulation of Copenhagen became unavoidable. Preparations to sink or burn the Danish fleet at anchor were made, but the expected orders were never received.
  At the capitulation on 7 September 1807, Bille refused to append his signature and sought permission from the crown prince (later Frederick VI) to launch what would be a suicide attack with all available weapons. He is quoted (in translation) as saying "I foresaw that my suggestion would achieve nothing other than my own and my naval warriors honourable deaths. In the meantime we could have won enough time that the Fleet might have been destroyed at its anchorage." On 9 October 1809 Bille was promoted to rear admiral.
caption: At Toldboden (The Customs House), Major General Heinrich Ernst Peymann says goodbye to Vice Admiral Steen Andersen Bille, who is heading out for an attack on the British Navy on 17 August, 1807.
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