Friedrich von Petersdorff

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Christian Friedrich Engel von Petersdorff (born June 3, 1775 in Hanau , † May 5, 1854 in Plauenthin ) was a Prussian lieutenant general and commandant of the Thorn fortress .

Life

origin

His parents were the Electorate of Hanover, Captain Hans Caspar Georg Engel von Petersdorff (* October 4, 1730 - November 22, 1798) and his wife Charlotte Wilhelmine, née Wohlfahrt (* October 8, 1740 - June 3, 1809). His brother Karl († March 3, 1834) was a member of the Kings German Legion and died as a Hanoverian lieutenant colonel .

career

Petersdorff attended the military school in Hanover and the University of Göttingen . In 1789 he became a cadet in the 1st Infantry Regiment of the Hanoverian Army and was promoted to lieutenant by the end of January 1794 . In the First Coalition War , Petersdorff was wounded in the skirmishes near Hondschote and Bentheim. He also fought in the siege of Valenciennes and the battles near Tomand and Nijmegen. After the occupation of Hanover by the French and the Artlenburg Convention , the Hanoverian Army was disbanded on June 18, 1803. Many members of the army - like his brother - went to the Kings German Legion in England.

Petersdorff changed to Prussian services and came on March 31, 1804 with a patent from May 22, 1794 as the oldest second lieutenant in the infantry regiment "von Borcke" . On April 20, 1805, he was promoted to lieutenant prime minister. In the Fourth Coalition War he escaped with the surrender of Lübeck, then fought in the defense of Kolberg and in the battle near Naugard. On March 9, 1807 he joined the Schill Freikorps as a staff captain and was made a brigadier on June 17, 1807 . When Schill was wounded in a battle near Naugard on February 17, 1807, Petersdorff took over the lead. For his brave behavior, King Friedrich Wilhelm III. the order of Pour le Mérite . On March 18, 1807 he was sent to England to procure weapons and material, which he successfully completed.

After the Peace of Tilsit he was transferred to the Army captain on May 22, 1808 and as a company commander in the Leib-Infantry Regiment on August 20, 1808 . When Schill rebelled in 1809, Petersdorff was sent to hold him back, but this failed. When Prussia had to take part in the war against Russia on the French side in 1812 , Petersdorff said goodbye on March 9, 1812 and went to Russia. As a major, he was accepted into the Lützow Freikorps on February 18, 1813 and acted as leader of the infantry. During the Wars of Liberation he fought in the battles near Gadebusch, Vallahn and Dannenberg. In the battle of the göhrde was Lutzow wounded and Petersdorff took over for a few months in charge. At Zarrenthin he acquired the Iron Cross II class and the Order of St. Vladimir IV class. In January 1814 he was sent to Kassel to help Prince Elector Wilhelm von Hessen-Kassel rebuild his army. He subsequently took part in the capture of Luxembourg , Thionville and Metz . On February 9, 1814 he was awarded the Swedish Order of the Sword . After the dissolution of the Freikorps, he was transferred to the 25th Infantry Regiment on March 31, 1815 and promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on October 3, 1815. When he fell from a horse, he broke his leg and due to the slow healing process, Petersdorff could not take part in the campaign of 1815.

He was therefore appointed commander of Memel on October 10, 1815 and promoted to colonel on March 30, 1820 with a patent from April 3, 1820 . On July 18, 1825, he received the service cross . On March 30, 1827, he was transferred to Pillau as commandant . On March 30, 1834 he was given the character of major general before he came to Thorn on August 18, 1837 as a commander. On June 11, 1839 he was promoted to major general with a patent dated March 30, 1834. On January 4, 1842, Petersdorff was awarded the Red Eagle Order II. Class with Oak Leaves, before he left on April 5, 1842 with the character of Lieutenant General and an annual pension of 2100 thalers. He died on May 5, 1854 in Plauenthin (Kolberg-Körlin district).

In his assessment from 1833, General von Natzmer wrote : “A capable commander who is quite suitable for higher positions of this kind. Scientifically educated, war experience and firmness of character advantageously distinguish him. In all other respects respectable. "

family

His first wife was on May 2, 1808 in Ziethen Johanna Maria von Homeyer (* August 6, 1783, † May 28, 1813). The marriage remained childless. After her death, he married Lucinde Rippel (April 2, 1796 - December 8, 1858) on November 26, 1816 in Memel, with whom Petersdorff had the following children:

  • Friedrich Hans Karl Hermann Gustav Adolf (born November 8, 1818 - † March 5, 1878), retired lieutenant colonel. D., 1866 commander of the 5th Landwehr Hussar Regiment ⚭ Elfriede Mathias von Wallhofen (* 23 August 1842), abbess of the Barschau women's monastery near Lüben
  • Maria Elise Thisnelda Karoline Friederike Lucinde (born April 21, 1820) ⚭ 1841 Franz Georg Eugen von Drigalski, second lieutenant in the 33rd Infantry Regiment
  • Georg Ferdinand Engel Alfred Eugen Max (born April 29, 1824 - † December 30, 1870), retired second lieutenant. D., Herr auf Plauenthin ⚭ 1849 Eugenie von Stempel (* April 13, 1830; † December 29, 1866)

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Gothaisches genealogical pocket book of the letter aristocratic houses 1909. Third volume p. 369.
  2. ↑ online-ofb.de has slightly different data than Gotha
personal data
SURNAME Petersdorff, Friedrich von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Petersdorff, Christian Friedrich Engel von (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Prussian lieutenant general, commandant of Thorn
DATE OF BIRTH June 3, 1775
PLACE OF BIRTH Hanau
DATE OF DEATH May 5, 1854
Place of death Plauenthin