Nicolai Jonge was born in Copenhagen . The family originated from Amsterdam and had then been resident in Scania . His father, Peder Nielsen, was an accountant at the Rentekammeret and a surveyor at the Stock Exchange ; the mother's name was Anna Sophie born Einhaus. He became a student from Copenhagen School in 1745 and took 2 years after the certificate . In 1754 he became a catechist at Holmens Kirke , and at the same time was a much-used theological manuductor , in addition to graduating with a master's degree . He was ordained a priest only in 1762 , when he was called to be a parish priest in Allerslev Parish by Præstø , in which office he died. The year after he had become a priest, he married Geske Fischer, the daughter of a consumer clerk, in Copenhagen.

Jonge was a very prolific writer and particularly cultivated geography . The poor conditions in which he lived compelled him to seek increased profit by the pen. A number of school books emanated from his hand. Thus already in 1753 a translation of a German school geography; the following year he delivered a Latin compendium of geography, later improved and augmented with maps. Then follows a school edition of Phædrus (a Roman poet of fables), and for students a Bible story in Latin ( Collegium biblicum , 1760 ), written in questions and answers and with rich references to literature.

He edited Ludvig Holberg's Synopsis historiæ universalis in Danish, and expanded and continued it considerably (1757). As a model for his processing, he has taken an English version of dr. Granville Sharpe in London . But if there was any sense in using Holberg's name for this textbook in history, it was inappropriate when Jonge allowed himself to use the same name for an elaborate geography that he began in 1759; it was only a decoy to get the writing marketed. Jonge therefore also did not fail to make an apology for this in the foreword; but "several learned men" had declared that it could probably be done. Holberg's Geography, published in this way "with a false sign" – as Rasmus Nyerup said – was a very large-scale work, which over the years reached 7 strong quarto volumes ; the last ( 1791 ), published after Jonge's death, was not prepared by Jonge, but by Niels Prahl , and included the foreign parts of the world. The best and newest aids were used, and the work testified to the serious diligence and well-readness of its author. But he had extraordinary financial resources to promote the publication, and this was all the more unfortunate as it was pre-numbered by a multitude of subscribers . The 5th volume constitutes Denmark's Chorographic Descriptionand the 6th volume a similar description of Norwayand the Nordic countries.

Later he published a detailed description of Copenhagen ( Kjøbenhavns Beskrivelse , 1783 ), which was intended for 2 parts; but he managed to get only the 1st part printed. State Councilor Erik Torm , who was the police and mayor of Copenhagen, who encouraged him to prepare, supported him with his own rich collections and provided him with access to the archives. It was a thorough work that, due to its considerable substance, still has value. Part 2, which was completely prepared, was published in 1945 .

Among Jonge's writings, 3 homiletic aids can also be mentioned, containing outlines for sermons on the Sunday Gospels as well as for wedding and funeral speeches, in addition to some smaller works of a personal history nature. All in all, Jonge presents the image of a diligent and skilled priest who, however, had to struggle with heavy economic hardships throughout his life.

https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolai_Jonge