Botho zu Eulenburg

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Count Botho zu Eulenburg
Chlodwig zu Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst
Personal details
Born(1831-07-31)31 July 1831
Philipp zu Eulenburg
(second cousin)
OccupationJurist

Botho Wendt August Graf[a] zu Eulenburg (31 July 1831 – 5 February 1912) was a Prussian statesman. Throughout the entire German Empire period he was, alongside Albrecht von Roon the only Minister President of Prussia not also to be Chancellor of Germany, with the two offices being practically synonymous.

Early life and career

Eulenburg was born in Wicken (now in Pravdinsky District)[1] to Botho Heinrich zu Eulenburg (1804–1879) and Therese née von Dönhoff (1806–1882).[2] He studied law at the universities of Königsberg and Bonn.

Eulenburg worked in high positions of the Prussian and German administration in

Département de la Lorraine; 1872–1873) and upper president of the Province of Hanover
(1873–1878). In March 1878 Eulenburg succeeded his first cousin once removed

Prime Minister of Prussia

In 1892, he was appointed

Prime Minister of Prussia in succession to Leo von Caprivi
, who however remained Chancellor of Germany.

Though Caprivi had recommended the experienced administrator Eulenburg for this appointment, the new prime minister soon made life difficult for Caprivi, and often thought of pressing for his removal. Both Caprivi and Eulenburg were eventually dismissed by Wilhelm II following the renewal of anti-Socialist moves (and an anti-subversion bill) in 1894. Eulenburg often thought of himself as the only possible successor to Caprivi, and he was extremely unhappy to be dismissed at what he regarded as the moment of his destiny.

From 1899 until his death, Eulenburg was a member of the

Berlin-Kreuzberg
.

Personal life and family

Eulenburg was the older brother of

Wilhelm II, German Emperor
, and an instrumental figure behind the scenes of German politics.

On 25 October 1875 he married at Neustadt, West Prussia Elisabeth von Alvensleben (22 September 1834 in Brandenburg/Havel – 5 September 1919 in Neustadt), by whom he had an only son, Botho (15 February 1879 in Berlin – 30 May 1881 in Berlin).

Honours

He received the following orders and decorations:[3]

Notes

  1. ^ Regarding personal names: Until 1919, Graf was a title, translated as Count, not a first or middle name. The female form is Gräfin. In Germany, it has formed part of family names since 1919.

References

  1. ^ Biography Archived July 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine at University of Oldenburg
  2. ^ a b Biography at Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (in German)
  3. ^ Handbuch über den Königlich Preußischen Hof und Staat fur das jahr 1908, p. 57
  4. ^ Bille-Hansen, A. C.; Holck, Harald, eds. (1903) [1st pub.:1801]. Statshaandbog for Kongeriget Danmark for Aaret 1903 [State Manual of the Kingdom of Denmark for the Year 1903] (PDF). Kongelig Dansk Hof- og Statskalender (in Danish). Copenhagen: J.H. Schultz A.-S. Universitetsbogtrykkeri. pp. 11–12. Retrieved 10 February 2021 – via da:DIS Danmark.
Government offices
Preceded by Oberpräsident of Hanover
1873 – 1878
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Oberpräsident of Hesse-Nassau

1881 – 1892
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by
Interior Minister of Prussia

1878 – 1881
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Prime Minister of Prussia

1892 – 1894
Succeeded by
Prince
Chlodwig zu Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst
Preceded by
Interior Minister of Prussia

1892 – 1894
Succeeded by