Joachim Melchior Magens (1715–1783)
# Joachim Melchior Magens (1715–1783)

Joachim (Jockum) Melchior Magens (4 March 1715 – 18 August 1783) was a Danish colonial administrator and planter in the Danish West Indies. He is remembered for publishing a grammar of Negerhollands in 1770. Magens Bay is named after his father. He was the grandfather of Joachim Melchior Magens (1775–1845).

## Early life and background

Magens was born on St. Thomas in the Danish West Indies, the son of planter Jacob Jørgensen Magens (1682–1731) and Maria van Beverhoudt (1675–1718).

## Career

Magens and a Copenhagen-based younger brother inherited plantation No. 7 on St. John. He later served first as skifteforvalter on St. Thomas (1760) and then as bailiff (landfoged) and council chairman (stadshauptmand) on the island.

## Written works

Magens published a grammar of Negerhollands entitled Grammatica over det Creolske Sprog, som bruges paa de trende Danske Eilande, St. Croix, St. Thomas og St. Jans i America (1770).

