Henrik Fleming

Henrik Klasson Fleming was a member of the Swedish nobility and admiral, diplomat and lord marshal. He was the author of one of the first autobiographies in Swedish, a colourful depiction of his early life which he wrote for his children in a moralising purpose.

Biography
Fleming was born on 15 August 1584 in Åkerholm, present-day Finland. He was part of the king's command in active military service, having participated as a captain under Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden in war campaigns against Denmark and Russia. As a military officer, one of his major successes was when he led the Swedish forces that conquered Jämtland in 1644, making it part of Sweden. In 1617 he took part in the conclusion of peace in Stolbova as Swedish delegate. The same year he became governor of the County of Viborg and Nyslott and colonel of the Karelian cavalry the following year.

In 1620 he was appointed governor of Ingria, colonel of the Finnish cavalry in 1622 and vice admiral in 1628. Along with Privy Council members Philip von Scheiding and Erik Gyllenstierna, he traveled in 1634 as envoy to the Grand Duke of Moscow. He was sharply criticized by the government, as he demanded payment to undertake this assignment. As lord marshal, he led the nobility party during the Riksdag of the Estates deliberations in 1643 and 1644.

In his youth he was left without any support from his father who had become a very rich man. He was for a few years struggling with poverty. Later, he supplied goods to the army through trade and leasing, so that by his death he had accumulated a fortune, both in wars and partly on business speculation, of which he used a large portion to benefit his people. He died on 7 November 1650 in Stockholm, Sweden. His and his wife's wooden epitaph from the year 1624 and the Fleming family sandstone tomb from the year 1632 are located at Virmo Church (60.67917°N, 21.98972°W), north of Åbo, Finland.

Genealogy
The son of Governor Klas Hermansson Fleming and Elisabet Henriksdotter Horn, he married his sister-in-law Ebba Erlandsdotter Bååt (1588 – 1630) on 13 March 1608, with whom he had Johan Henriksson Fleming (24 June 1609 – 29 April 1646).