He was a son of Lauritz Ulrik la Cour (no. 52) and Ellen Kirstine la Cour, born on 6 May 1842 at Skærsø manor. Baptised the following month, on 12 June, Christian, as he was called, was named after his father’s foster parents, a war councillor named Møller and his wife. He attended the Aarhus Borgerrealskole school from 1849 to 1853 and then lower secondary school at the Aarhus grammar school* from 1853 to 1855. From 1856 to 1858, he worked in the households of his father’s brothers, Peter la Cour (no. 50) at Margrethelund farm and Christian la Cour (no. 53) in Ålsø. After learning how to farm with his uncle (his mother’s brother) Peter Poulsen at the Dalsgård farm in 1858-59, Christian spent some time at home, but then, in 1860, enrolled at the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University and graduated with a degree in agriculture in 1862. From 1862 to 1864, he worked as farm-bailiff* for Counsellor J.B.H. Andersen at Gunderslevholm farm. After fighting in the Second Schleswig War* of 1864 as a volunteer (sergeant), Christian was appointed head of the Royal Danish Agricultural Society the following year, also handling a major transfer of cattle from Copenhagen to Leith, Scotland, that year. He began working as farm-bailiff at Trinderup, a manor near Hobro, in 1866.
Christian married Marie Sophie Utzon Vandborg la Cour (née Utzon Vandborg) on 29 May 1868 in Hornum. Marie was born on 11 November 1841 at Trinderup manor, and her parents were Mathias Peter Vandborg, an estate owner* and delegate to the Estates of the Realm*, and Johanne Steenild. She spent 1866 learning dairy and household skills at Dybvad farm.
Also in 1868, Hans purchased Havmøllen, a farm near Ebeltoft. In 1873 he leased Trinderup from his mother-in-law and left the management of Havmøllen to his youngest brother Peter. The following year, Christian co-founded and was appointed chair of the Hobro area farmers’ association. He bought Trinderup in 1880 and sold Havmøllen to Peter, who had been managing it for him. From 1888 to 1900, Christian was a member of a commission dealing with granting compensation for damage caused by military exercises. He chaired the machine section of the farmer’s meeting held in Randers in 1894 and was made a Knight of the Order of Dannebrog* that same year. He leased Trinderup to his two eldest sons in 1899, but he and Marie continued to live at the manor for a few years.
In 1898 Christian was elected a member of Landstinget, the upper house of the Danish parliament, serving for the ninth district until 1918. He joined the Højre (“Right”) party, but was quite independent, supporting agrarian policies and holding far right-wing positions in negotiations on the school system and customs and agrarian reforms. “He was a powerful speaker and worked hard, a rough-hewn and outspoken farmer by nature, a man who stood firmly by his convictions in political and academic issues and defended them with energy and authority.” (Anton Christensen, Dansk biografisk leksikon, vol. V, p 421). Marie died on 11 May 1909 at Trinderup manor, and Christian died there on 28 September 1922. (Nine children: the Trinderup Line.) http://www.pierrelacour.dk/hans-christian-ditlev-la-cour-71/
