Johann von Diest

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Johann von Diest (born April 6, 1598 in Altena , † 1665 ) was electoral Brandenburg privy councilor and curator of the University of Duisburg .

Life and family environment

Johann von Diest came from a Protestant Westphalian family, Diest , who played an important role in both state administration and economic life in the Brandenburg-Prussian possessions in Westphalia and on the Lower Rhine ( Kleve , Mark and Ravensberg ) in the 17th and 18th centuries . He was born on April 6, 1598 in Altena as the son and 7th surviving child of Altena's rentier Simeon Tegeler von Diest (1536–1605), purchaser of the iron ore mine 'Ziegenkamp' near Plettenberg , and Anna von der Beck (1565–1648) born. Johann von Diest studied law and was awarded a Dr. jur. PhD. He was married four times and had 6 surviving children (out of 15).

Career in the Brandenburg service

Johann von Diest dedicated his entire life to serving in his native Altena and serving in the administration of the Electorate of Brandenburg. As early as 1632 he was not only mayor of Altena, but also councilor of Brandenburg. At the same time he is the deputy of the towns of the County of Mark and administrator of the Count von Schwarzenberg in his imperial rule Gimborn-Neustadt.

Supported by the trust of his elector, he rose quickly. As early as 1634, he became a Brandenburg privy councilor in Emmerich and curator of the State University of Duisburg . From 1652 until his death in 1665 he held the office of vice-chancellor and director of the Kleve-Mark government.

Economic activity

Johann von Diest was a rich man from home. However, he was not limited to managing his inherited wealth. As early as 1634 he leased the wire pile from the city of Altena and also became the founder of the salt works in Werdohl and thus became a pioneer for industrial development in the later Ruhr area . Elector Friedrich Wilhelm von Brandenburg recognized his economic talent and therefore enfeoffed him in 1662 with all the mines in the Hammer parish.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Genealogical Handbook of the Nobility , Volume B VIII, CA Starke-Verlag, Limburg, 1968, pp. 25f.
personal data
SURNAME Diest, Johann von
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Privy councilor from the Elector of Brandenburg and curator of the University of Duisburg
DATE OF BIRTH April 6, 1598
PLACE OF BIRTH Altena
DATE OF DEATH 1665