Petersen was born on January 12, 1868, in Copenhagen to Michael Abraham and Hansine V. (Hansen) Petersen.[1][2] The family moved to the United States when Petersen was three months old.[2] He attended Worcester Public Schools and graduated from Worcester High School in 1889.[1]
Athletics
In 1891, Petersen enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania, where he was captain of the freshman crew and a member of the school's varsity crew from 1893 to 1895. He also played end on the Penn Quakers football team.[1][2] Petersen was the head football coach at the College of the Holy Cross in 1896 and 1897 and complied a 6–5–3 record.[3] He also coached and rowed for the Worcester crew.[2]
In addition to his medical practice, Petersen was also a director of the New Tubercular Home, president of the Public Coal Company, and a trustee of the Worcester Free Public Library.[1][2][4]
Personal life
On October 11, 1899, Petersen married Anna H. Lucke, they had one son, Alfred Herman Petersen.[1] Petersen died on November 6, 1933.[5]