The Royal Danish Consulate in Georgia Celebrates 220 Years in Georigia

By Honorary Consul Christopher N. Smith, Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Denmark

The Royal Danish Consulate celebrated the 220th Anniversary of its founding on Thursday August 18, 2022. Christopher Smith, the Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Denmark hosted a celebration at Mercer University School of Law in Macon, Georgia, to recognize the milestone. Mr. Smith stated that a law school was a very appropriate venue to celebrate the anniversary, noting that the founding father, James Madison, a chief architect of the U.S. Constitution, issued a letter approving the appointment of a Danish consul in Georgia on August 18, 1802. At the time,  Madison was serving as U.S. Secretary of State under the administration of Thomas Jefferson. William Scarborough of Savannah received his Exequatur in the letter and began representing Denmark in Georgia. His home now houses the Ships of the Sea Museum in Savannah. 

Members of the consular corps from Nigeria, Liechtenstein and the Bahamas were present as was the Dean of the law school, Karen Sneddon. Students, faculty and staff of Mercer Law School also attended. A graduate of the law school, Mr. Smith informed the students that many historians trace the twelve – person jury back to the Danish Vikings who ruled part of England under “Danelaw”. He also informed the attendees that while it is possible that there may be a consulate with a longer presence in Georgia, the Royal Danish Consulate had the oldest establishment date that has been verified. Thus, likened the Royal Danish Consulate to the Rose Bowl, the “granddaddy of them all.” 

Founded in 1873, Mercer University School of law is one of the oldest law schools in America. Since that time, it has produced numerous notable graduates including Governors, U.S. Senators, members of the State and Federal Judiciary, an Attorney General of the United States and a United States Supreme Court Justice, in addition to the numerous successful attorneys in both private and public practice.