The Regency of Ove Høegh-Guldberg

Høegh-Guldberg was of humble background. He earned a theology degree in 1753, and in 1761 became professor of rhetoric at Sorø academy. He was appointed tutor to Prince Frederik, half brother of the future king Charles VII, in 1764. As Frederick's private secretary in 1771, he shared Frederik's hostility to Count Johann Friedrich Struensee, then supreme in Denmark through his domination of Christian VII - Høegh-Guldberg took part in a conspiracy that led to Struensee's arrest and execution in 1772. Thereafter, Høegh-Guldberg, along with Prince Frederik and the dowager queen Juliana Maria, gained significant power in the Danish state. In 1774 Høegh-Guldberg was made confidential cabinet secretary. Soon, without consulting the other council ministers, he was issuing orders signed by the incompetent Christian VII. He took over control of foreign policy after dismissing foreign minister Count A.P. Bernstorff in 1780. Høegh-Guldberg was forced out of power during a 1784 coup d'état led by Prince Frederik.