Leton, Jan

Biography in relation to Skagen

See also Krøyer's House

Camillo Bruun tells in "What the Marsh Tales" that Jan was very good at drinking the Danish brandy and smoking the pipe, which was never out of his mouth.

One day Ole Lund sent Jan to pick up and pay for a purchased item, but on the way he got into good company and spent the money on brandy. Ole Lund was angry, but Jan argued that if he repeatedly let himself be pampered by the fishermen, he must surely pamper himself too. Ole Lund bought it and they became good friends again.

Jan had a Brazilian monkey called Jocko.

The story of Lund, the town bailiff in Skagen, and Jan Leton has been known around these parts since Camillo Bruun published a collection of sketches and travelogues in 1866, which included the fantastic story of Jan Leton, given by an American ship captain to the colourful canceller in the tormented fishing town.

And it's not just a hoax. We can find Jan Leton in the church register, and the register of Lund, the town bailiff, also lists the monkey who was said to be Jan Leton's best mate.

Since then, the story has been told many times in the newspapers, and Jan Leton has of course also been on the cast list at the local plays on Svallerbakken.

But it wasn't until 2009 that Dødemandsbjerget was published, in which author Henrik Ventzel uses the material to create a fine historical novel, in which you can also meet Marie, the fisherman's daughter, and in which there are drownings, maritime accidents, deaf half-brothers, grief and sorrow, as well as a gripping description of the ruthless life in Skagen at the beginning of the 19th century.