Danckwardt was born to Henrik Danckwardt and Elisabet Clerck, and was the grandson of
Joachim Danckwardt. He served for 9 years as a
page under queen consort
Hedvig Eleonora. Danckwardt was named
fänrik of the
Västgöta-Dal Regiment in 1697 under Major
Hugo Hamilton. Hamilton, during his previous service at another regiment, had then personally requested Danckwardt to be his captain. Hamilton was also responsible for Danckwardt's promotions to Major in 1711, and to
Överstelöjtnant (Lieutenant colonel) in 1712. After the debacle at Poltava, Hamilton's regiment was moved from
Stockholm to
Malmö, where it participated in the
Battle of Helsingborg in 1710. In 1712, it moved to
Gothenburg.
The defense of Carlsten fortress Danckwardt was promoted to
Colonel and commander of
Carlsten fortress at
Marstrand in 1712. When Carlsten was assaulted by
Peder Tordenskjold's forces, Danckwardt was forced to surrender on 15 July 1719. Danckwardt was thereafter arrested while trying to evade custody, and sentenced to death. The
executioner was at the time, intoxicated and was therefore delayed. When the executioner at last arrived, he had to attempt the
decapitation of Danckwardt twice before succeeding on 16 September 1719 in
Gothenburg. The executioner received a formal warning. Danckwardt's fellow officers were also later sentenced by the court martial to the death penalty, but were pardoned. ==References==