August Willads Bech

August Willads Bech (21 July 1815 - 28 May 1877) was a Danish landowner. He owned Valbygård at Slagelse and Borupgård at Borup. Valbygård is still owned by his descendants.

Early life and education
Bech was born on 21 July 1815 in Copenhagen, the son of merchant and ship-owner Jørgen Peter Bech (1782–1846) and Ellen Sophie Magdalene Meyer (1784–1846). He grew up in his father's house at Nybrogade 22 and  later studied agriculture in Denmark and Mecklenburg.

Career
Om 184+. Bech purchased Fredsholm at Nakskov on Lolland. He purchased Valbygård at Slagelse for 500,000 Danish rigsdaler in 1846 and sold Fredsholm the following year. He modernized the operations and converted many of the copyholds to freeholds. He also constructed a number of new buildings on the estate. In 1855, he also acquired nearby Brorupgård. His estates, with a combined area of more than 600 hectares, were mainly used for breeding of cattle. He also operated a modern dairy on his estate. He was also a pioneer of cultivation of root crops.

In 1856, he also purchased Moselund in Engesvang at Silkeborg. He planted forest on most of the estate.

Bech was from 1855 and until his death a member of Sorø County Council.

Personal life
Bech married  Kirstine Margrethe (Grethe) Rothe (7 June 1823 - 21 March 1886), a daughter of counter admiral  Carl A. Rothe (1767–1834) and Benedicte Ulfsparre de Tuxen (1790–1877), on 30 March 1842 in the Church of Holmen.

He died on 28 May 1877 at Engelsholm in Vejle. He is buried at Norup Cemetery.

Awards
He was created a Knight in the Order of the Dannebrog in 1888 and a Commander in the Order of the Dannebrog in 1919.

References

External links
 August Villads Bech ast geni.com
 August Villads Becj
 August Villads Bech

Category:19th-century Danish landowners
Category:1815 births
Category:1877 deaths