Salomon von Rajalin | |
---|---|
Birth name | Salomon Maurits von Rajalin |
Born |
Karlskrona, Sweden |
25 August 1757
Died | 23 September 1825 , Sweden |
(aged 68)
Buried | Klara Cemetery |
Service/branch | Swedish Navy |
Years of service | 1773–1809 |
Rank | Admiral |
Battles/wars | |
Other work | Governor of Saint Barthélemy Governor of Gotland County Governor of Gävleborg County |
Russo-Swedish War (1788–90)
Finnish War
Baron Salomon Maurits von Rajalin (25 August 1757 – 23 September 1825) was a Swedish Navy admiral and civil servant.
Rajalin was born in Karlskrona, Sweden, the son of the governor of Blekinge County Johan von Rajalin (who was titled Baron (friherre) from 1771) and his wife Barbara Eleonora von Gertten.
Appointed at the age of sixteen to fänrik in the Fleet of the Army, Rajalin served 1780-82 as an employee of the French Navy. After having returned to Sweden, he quickly rose through the ranks and became, since the Caribbean island of Saint Barthélemy in 1784 came into Swedish possession, in 1785 the first Swedish governor there. From there he was transferred in 1787 to the governor location on Gotland and held that post for 20 years, during which he however long periods of time held different positions of trust. He was during the Russo-Swedish War 1788-90 military commander of the Archipelago fleet and excelled particularly in an engagement at Porkkalanniemi on 26 August 1789.
After the peace treaty he became rear admiral in 1791 and was 1791-94 general commissary in the fleet. Appointed vice-admiral in 1799, Rajalin was 1801-09 as acting adjutant general, rapporteur before the king in cases involving the fleet. During the Finnish War in 1808 he commanded the Archipelago fleet, but resigned from this position in October of that year. Appointed in 1809 by Charles XIII to admiral, he became in 1812 governor of Gävleborg County, but resigned already in 1813 from this position.