Ernst Ludwig von Pfuhl

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Ernst Ludwig von Pfuhl

Ernst Ludwig von Pfuhl ( Pfuel ) (born December 8, 1716 at Gut Plagow , Neumark ; † May 5, 1798 ) was a royal Prussian infantry general , governor of the Spandau citadel , governor of Potsdam , and inspector general of the Brandenburg infantry.

Life

Pfuhl came from the old to Jahnsfelde in the Brandenburg Switzerland -based noble family of Pfuel . He was the son of Friedrich Wilhelm von Pfuhl (* August 16, 1690; † October 14, 1756), captain of a royal Prussian regiment, and his wife Dorothee Hedwig Scultetus von Unfried. The Prussian major general Franz Wilhelm von Pfuel was his brother.

The parents moved to Pomerania soon after his birth and entrusted a Mr. von Weyher , who was related to them, with the upbringing of their son. Pfuel became a cadet and very soon served as a free corporal in the regiment of Prince Dietrich von Anhalt-Dessau . In his younger years, Pfuel served in the Silesian War and the Seven Years War (1756–1763). Wounded several times, he was distinguished by his bravery and in 1758 was given his own company . In 1760, when Pfuel had successfully led a battalion commanded by him under difficult circumstances , which was attacked by a superior force between Töpliwoda and Neisse during the march, to the fortress, Frederick II appointed him major and awarded him the order of Pour le Mérite .

The king now often drew Pfuhl into his company, especially after he had proven himself again in a successful rearguard battle at the head of a brigade of Prince Heinrich's army during the retreat from Bohemia during the War of the Bavarian Succession . On June 17, 1779 he was promoted to major general.

After the peace agreement, Pfuhl became the commanding general of the Fusilier Regiment No. 46 , 1784 governor of Spandau and soon afterwards inspector of the Brandenburg infantry. Since March 31, 1783 he was the governor of Potsdam. " Now he is under Pfuhl's jurisdiction, " said Friedrich, " because he himself is only a resident of Potsdam ".

Pfuhl became a close confidante of the king and in March 1786 was appointed lieutenant general. Frederick II often had him come to Potsdam during his last illness and talked to him like a friend. Friedrich II wrote in a letter to Pfuhl in 1786:

“My dear Colonel von Pfuhl. Do not think that because I am far from you, I am not thinking of you. Since I have been written that a position is vacant in the Münster-Eyffel Abbey, I am giving you the same to show you that I am your affectionate King Friedrich. "

On May 28, 1786, Frederick II sent the Order of the Black Eagle to " my dear and honest lake" and had it come to Potsdam frequently. Appointed General of the Infantry in 1794, Pfuhl died on March 5, 1798.

Awards and honors

Pfuhl was the bearer of the Pour le Mérite (1760) and the last knight in the Order of the Black Eagle awarded by Frederick the Great (May 28, 1786).

family

He had married in Minden in 1764. His wife was Anna Katharina Margarethe von Pott (* 1739; † January 29, 1803). The couple had the following children:

  • Karl August Wilhelm
  • August Christoph Adolf (born April 17, 1768), treasurer a. Head forester near Trier
  • Christoph Ludwig (* 1770 - May 26, 1813), as Major Commander of the Fusilier Battalion of the 1st West Prussian Infantry Regiment (No. 7) wounded near Groß-Görschen and later killed his injuries
  • Leopoldine Christiane Henriette ⚭ 1794 Friedrich Wilhelm August von Glaubitz on Kostlitz

literature

  • Anton Balthasar König : Ernst Ludwig von Pfuhl . In: Biographical lexicon of all heroes and military people . tape III . Arnold Wever, Berlin 1790, p. 147–154 ( Ernst Ludwig von Pfuhl in the Google book search).

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The Generals of the Chur-Brandenburg and Royal Prussian Army, p.353
personal data
SURNAME Pfuhl, Ernst Ludwig von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Pfuel, Ludwig von
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Prussian general of the infantry, governor of the Spandau citadel, inspector general of the Brandenburg infantry
DATE OF BIRTH December 8, 1716
PLACE OF BIRTH Gut Plagow, Neumark
DATE OF DEATH May 5, 1798