Heinrich of L'Estocq
Heinrich von L'Estocq (born April 1, 1756 in Dresden , † April 8, 1837 in Berlin ) was a royal Prussian major general and holder of the order Pour le Mérite .
Life and family environment
He came from the Huguenot family L'Estocq, who were mostly in Prussian military service . His parents were the Elector. Saxon Colonel Jakob August von L'Estocq (1715–1790) and Charlotte von Niesemeuschel (* 1721). He died in Berlin on April 8, 1837 . He had been married to Anna Sophie Charlotte Freiin von Buddenbrock (1774–1836) since May 14, 1799 and had a son and 3 daughters with her.
Military career
Heinrich von L'Estocq, like almost all of his relatives, chose the military profession and entered the Prussian army as a cavalry officer applicant. It proved itself particularly in the battles of the Prussian army against the Napoleonic armies after the double battle at Jena and Auerstedt in the defense of East Prussia and Danzig . At the time he was a major in the Rouquette-Dragoons regiment. In a report by Massenbach to General von Kalckreuth of March 23, 1807, it says: ".... Major von L'Estocq, who contributed to the VO of my boss at Preussisch-Eylau in the Hagenau affair (January 19) SM was proposed to the king, has reproduced himself anew at Aller Engel (March 26th) with great determination and asserted the position which was attacked with superiority ... ". According to a later to a commission of inquiry, which after the Peace of Tilsit had to investigate the behavior of all Prussian officers during the lost war, L'Estocq had the French attack in the battle near Hagenau on January 19, 1807 with only 2 weak squadrons not only repulsed on his position, but also thrown back the enemy in a counterattack and captured 3 officers and 28 men. The Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III. then awarded Major von L'Estocq on April 8, 1807 the order Pour le Mérite . In the very highest cabinet order to General Friedrich Adolf von Kalckreuth of April 8, 1807 it says: ".... As an addendum to my answer to your report of the 30th of the month ..... and that of that general as well as the major of L'Estocq .... to be recommended as a VO, I want to approve the award .... ".
Heinrich von L'Estocq continued to serve in the Prussian army and advanced to the rank of major general. After his discharge from active service, he entered the diplomatic services of the Anhalt-Dessau and Anhalt-Bernburg-Köthen dukes and represented them as Minister-Resident in Berlin.
Individual evidence
- ^ A b Genealogical Handbook of the Nobility , Volume B VI, CA Starke-Verlag, Limburg, 1964, p. 225.
- ↑ Gustav Lehmann: The Knights of the Order Pour le Mérite, Volume I, Page 461 No. 141, Mittler, Berlin, 1913.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | L'Estocq, Heinrich von |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | L'Estocq, Gottfried Ludwig Heinrich von |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Prussian officer, most recently major general and holder of the order Pour le Mérite |
| DATE OF BIRTH | April 1, 1756 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Dresden |
| DATE OF DEATH | April 8, 1837 |
| Place of death | Berlin |