Alfred von dem Knesebeck

Alfred Cuno Paridam Freiherr von dem Knesebeck-Milendonck (29 August 1816 – 14. December 1883) was a soldier, landowner and member of the Prussian House of Representatives and the Reichstag of the North German Confederation for Free Conservative Party.

Alfred Cuno Paridam von dem Knesebeck
Baron von dem Knesebeck
Member of the Reichstag of the North German Confederation
In office
1867–1867
MonarchWilliam I
Member of the Prussian House of Representatives
In office
1866–1868
In office
1859–1862
MonarchWilliam I
Personal details
Born(1816-08-29)29 August 1816
Berlin, Prussia
Died14 December 1883(1883-12-14) (aged 67)
Karwe (Carwe) near Neuruppin, Prussia
Military service
AllegianceKingdom of Prussia Prussia
German Empire German Empire
Branch/serviceArmy
Years of service1834–1859
RankMajor
UnitGardes du Corps
Landwehr
Battles/warsSecond Schleswig War
Austro-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War

Life

Alfred von dem Knesebeck was born in Berlin on 29 August 1816 to Field Marshal Karl Friedrich von dem Knesebeck and Adolphine von Klitzing. He attended the Gymnasium zum Grauen Kloster in Berlin before commissioning into the Gardes du Corps in 1834, during which he became closely acquainted with Bismarck and Prince Waldemar of Prussia, with whom he maintained a lifelong friendship.[1]

In 1844 he resigned his regular commission in order to take over the management of the family estates, though he remained in the Landwehr until 1859, reaching the rank of Major. In 1858 he witnessed the French colonial campaign in Kabylie.

On 28 September 1843 Knesebeck married Franziska von Bojanowski, daughter of Lieutenant-General Alfred von Bojanowski, following a brief courtship. From 1859 to 1862 and 1866–68 he was a Member of the Prussian House of Representatives,[2] and in 1867 a Member the Reichstag of the North German Confederation.[3]

As a Knight of the Order of St John he became heavily involved in care for the wounded during the Second Schleswig War (1864), the Austro-Prussian War (1866) and the Franco-Prussian War (1871). For these services he received the Order of the Red Eagle, the Order of the Crown with St John device, and the Bavarian Order of Military Merit. At the personal request of Crown Prince Frederick William, he was also presented with the first Iron Cross to be awarded for services in the Order of St John.[4]

In light of his services and those of his father he was granted the joining the barony of Milendonck to that of Knesebeck. The Milendonck family had married into the Knesebeck family in the early 18th century, but had since become extinct. This was granted by royal decree on 10 March 1870.

Honours

References
  1. A. von dem Knesebeck: Meine Erlebnisse. Edition Rieger, Karwe 2008, p.12.
  2. Bernhard Mann (ed.): Biographisches Handbuch für das Preußische Abgeordnetenhaus. 1867–1918. (= Handbücher zur Geschichte des Parlamentarismus und der politischen Parteien. Band 3). Mitarbeit von Martin Doerry, Cornelia Rauh und Thomas Kühne. Droste Verlag, Düsseldorf 1988, p. 220.
  3. Bernd Haunfelder, Klaus Erich Pollmann (eds.): Reichstag des Norddeutschen Bundes 1867–1870. Historische Photographien und biographisches Handbuch. (= Photodokumente zur Geschichte des Parlamentarismus und der politischen Parteien. Band 2). Droste Verlag, Düsseldorf 1989, Kurzbiographie, p.427.
  4. A. von dem Knesebeck: Meine Erlebnisse. Edition Rieger, Karwe 2008, p.136.
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