Jakob Bording

Jakob Bording the younger (27 January 1547 – 21 February 1616) was professor for feudal law at the University of Rostock, chancellor for the Duke of Mecklenburg, advisor to the King of Denmark and, during the final part of his life, Mayor of Lübeck [de].

He continued his studies at Paris, Heidelberg and Louvain, then ending up at Leipzig from where he emerged in 1574 as an extraordinary professor of feudal law, with an appropriate Licentiate (degree).

[1] It is a reflection both of his own qualities and contacts and of the role of Lübeck as an important power in the region that during his sixteen years as mayor Bording undertook a number of significant international visits, notably to Denmark in 1604 (twice) and 1610.

The office of mayor was an unpaid one, but Lübeck councillors expressed their own appreciation of Bording's contribution to the city's interests by granting him full use (ususfructus) of the Gut Strecknitz [de] estate as a life-time benefice.

[1] Jakob Bording is commended by one source for his sense of fairness, his direct dealing, and for his sheer ability as a teacher, lawyer and statesman.