The Life and Career of Jacob Petersen Jacob Petersen was born on 25 August 1774 in Flensburg, the son of a merchant named Nikolaj Petersen. His early years were shaped by the practical realities of maritime life rather than the quiet halls of an academy. Before he was known for his brushwork, he lived the life of a sailor and a pilot, gaining a firsthand understanding of the sea that would later define his professional output. This pr…