FIFE, KASTEN [SSNE 6281]

Surname

FIFE, PFEIF, FEIF

First name

KASTEN, CASTEN

Title/rank

Nationality

SCOTO-SWEDISH

Region

Social status

NOBILITY

Education

Religion

Text source

Kasten Feif was the son of Peter Feif [SSNE 4780] and grandson of the Scot, James Fife [SSNE 4779] who had originally migrated to Sweden from Scotland. Kasten was born to Peter and his wife Maria Hoff in Stockholm in September 1662. Apparently in 1670 Kasten was sent to Finland as a hat-maker, but his master's business failed, and Kasten returned to Sweden. Through his knowledge of the Finnish language he obtained work in royal service. Twenty years later he joined joined the chancellery and from then on was steadily promoted in the civil service. By 1697 he was registrar and in 1704 a senior secretary. His ennoblement followed in 1705. Two years later he transferred to the Finnish chancellery. He apparently became one of King Karl XII's "right hand men" particularly whilst the king was away on campaigns. The great Northern War saw him take on military duties as 'Ombudsrad' in 'Krigs Expedition'. Kasten allegedly issued the passport for "Peter Frisk" (Karl XII's pseudonym) in 1714. Fischer noted that Kasten became Secretary of State in the Ministry of the Interior and finally President of the Ministry in 1723. Feif had become a Swedish baron n 1715 and married Anna Kristina Barckhusen (1674-1724). Kasten died on 17 March 1739. He had three brothers, Peter[SSNE 6683], Johan[SSNE 6684] and Jakob. 

Svensk Biografisk Lexikon, vol.15, pp.507-510; T. Fischer, The Scots in Sweden, (Edinburgh, 1907), pp.210-212; J. Kleberg, Statskontoret 1680-1946 (Stockholm, MCMXLVIII), p.17.

Service record

SWEDEN, STOCKHOLM AND FINLAND

Arrived 1682-01-01, as CIVIL SERVANT

Departed 1715-12-31, as OMBUDSRAD

Capacity CIVIL SERVANT, purpose CIVIC