Karl August von Schaeffer

Karl August von Schaeffer (born March 2, 1745 in Groningen , Netherlands , † February 20, 1827 on Lippehne ) was a Prussian major general .

Life

origin

His parents were the Dutch captain Karl von Schäfer and his wife Emilie, née Otto.

Military career

Schaeffer visited the cadet house in Berlin from March 17, 1758 and was employed on September 9, 1762 as a Junker with the "Bayreuth Dragoons" of the Prussian Army . With this regiment he took part in the Seven Years' War . On August 3, 1763, he became an ensign and on October 10, 1765, second lieutenant . During the War of the Bavarian Succession , Schaeffer fought in a battle near Zuckmantel. After the war, he became Premier Lieutenant on October 7, 1782 and advanced to Major by January 9, 1791 . On December 9, 1792 he was appointed squadron chief and took part in the First Coalition War as such . Schaeffer fought in the cannonade of Valmy and the battles near Frankfurt am Main , Hochheim, Türkheim, Weißenburg and Kreuznach as well as the battles near Kaiserslautern and Moorlautern such as the sieges of Verdun , Valenciennes and Landau . On April 1, 1793, Schaeffer received the order Pour le Mérite for Türkheim . After the war he was on May 26, 1799 Lieutenant Colonel and on May 25, 1801 , Colonel . In the Fourth Coalition War , Schaeffer fought in the Battle of Auerstedt and in the battles near Zehdenick, Dirschau and the defense of Danzig . At that time he was on August 25, 1806 commander of the 2nd battalion, on March 28, 1807 regimental commander and on June 19, 1807 promoted to major general for his services during the siege. On October 4, 1808, Schaeffer received his departure with a pension of 800 thalers and the permit to wear his regimental uniform. After his death on February 23, 1827, he was buried at Instinenhoff near Kerkow (Soldin district).

In his assessment from 1804, General von Kalckreuth wrote : "Generally appreciated, a very excellent officer capable of war and peace".

family

Schaeffer married on January 16, 1793 in Pasewalk Henriette Dorothea Hanow (* May 4, 1776, † December 6, 1830), a daughter of the artillery lieutenant Christian Friedrich Hanow. The couple had several children:

• Heinrich August Friedrich (born January 14, 1792 - † July 12, 1868), Major a. D.
• Karl Heinrich August (March 20, 1796 - January 8, 1849), major in the War Ministry
• Emilie
• August Philipp Otto (born May 17, 1803)

literature

• Kurt von Priesdorff : Soldier leadership . Volume 3, Hanseatische Verlagsanstalt Hamburg, undated [Hamburg], undated [1937], DNB 367632780 , pp. 293-294, no. 1135.