Johan Fridolf Helin

Johan Fridolf Helin was born on 4 February 1816 at his family’s ancestral home, Kloster Castle in Stockholm County. On his paternal side, he was a member of the ancient aristocracy as a descendant of Baldwin of Ibelin. His father, Clemens von Helin IV, was extraordinary chamber council of the Royal Court of the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway. His mother was Albertina Jaeger, the daughter of a prominent Catholic family.

In 1822, his brother-in-law, Pontus Reinhold Uggla, was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Infantry Regiment of Värmland and his sister relocated southwards.^[1] His brother-in-law had risen to notoriety after his heroic actions during the 1813 to 1814 war campaigns against Norway, and the unification of the kingdoms.^[1]

In 1833, he enrolled at the Military Academy Karlberg, joining the academy as a Swedish cadet as part of his three-year training as do officers aspiring to become army captain. In 1836, he graduated as an officer and was employed by the Swedish Armed Forces.

Helin held various lower officer ranks from 1836 until 1848, when he was promoted to Captain of the Värmland Regiment.

Under Helin's leadership the Regiment became increasingly independent, carrying out volunteer campaigns in Europe. Helin was part of the pan-national Scandinavism movement. From 1840 to 1845, members of the Regiment, including Johan Fridolf Helin, volunteered in the First Schleswig War and was victorious.^[2][3] He developed a friendship with Carl Gustaf Löwenhielm, who was the supreme commander of the Swedish-Norwegian contingent of volunteers fighting for Denmark in the war with success,^[4] and served as his lieutenant commander-in-chief at the island of Funnen. The military forces of 4,000 men later transferred to the Danish Armed Forces, became known as the Occupational Corps.^[5] On 5 June 1848, he participated in the First Battle of Dybbøl, where Denmark and the Scandinavian Expeditionary Forces were victorious.^[6] On 23 April 1849, the Expeditionary Forces were defeated at the Battle of Kolding.^[7] On 6 July 1849, Helin was part of the Danish victory at the Battle of Fredericia. On 25 July 1850, at the Battle of Isted, the Scandinavian Forces defeated Schleswig-Holstein.^[8] During the battle the Scandinavian forces suffered great casualties with Helin sustaining an injury to his left shoulder and Major General Schleppegrell being killed in action.^[9]

In 1860, he was promoted to First Major of the Realm,^[10][11] equivalent to the contemporary office of sergeant major and with a rank of Adjutant General of the Swedish Armed Forces. He was also simultaneously given the rank of colonel-lieutenant of the Värmland Regiment and vice-commandant of Värmland County Command.^[12]

In 1871, he was appointed Colonel of the Värmland Regiment, and Chief of the Royal Infantry Regiment.^[13][14] He served as the Commandant-General of the Infantry Division from 1870 until 1873.^[15] He was also assigned the honorary position of supreme commandant of the Southern Garrison Command.