Philipp von Heister
Leopold Philipp von Heister (born April 4, 1716 in Homberg, † November 19, 1777 in Kassel ) was a Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel and Lieutenant General and commander of the Hessian troops during the American War of Independence .
Life
His parents were the Hesse-Kassel major (Johannes) Friedrich Emmeritus Caspar Heister (1674-1719) and his wife Catharina Maria Schaumburg.
Heister entered service in Hesse when he was young, but changed to French service during the War of the Austrian Succession . During the siege of Braunau am Inn on May 4, 1743, he was injured in the leg and was taken prisoner. During the Seven Years' War he was commander of the Hessian body regiment on horseback (from 1760 Regiment-Gensd'armes). In 1763 he was appointed major general. As such he fought in the battles of Hastenbeck , Krefeld and near Bergen . In these battles, too, he was repeatedly wounded. When Landgrave Friedrich II (Hessen-Kassel) rented 12,500 men to the English Crown, Heister was given command. The landgrave took over the general's debts as well as providing for his family. In mid-April 1776, the general embarked with more than 6000 men in Bremerlehe to cross over to North America. After four months, the force reached Sandy Hook Harbor and marched from Staten Island to Long Island . On August 27, 1776, the troops fought with the British in the Battle of Long Island and then occupied New York . In October 1776, the remaining troops arrived in New York under the command of Wilhelm von Knyphausen . Heister fought successfully against George Washington at White Plains . Despite his successes, he came in opposition to the British Commander in Chief in America, General William Howe . This operated the replacement of Heister by Knyphausen. Heister was officially recalled in 1777 because of his age and health. The general fell ill with pneumonia shortly after his return and died in Kassel in November.
In 1776 Heister was raised to the nobility by the emperor. He was a Knight of the Order of the Golden Lion and Pour la Vertu Militiare .
family
He was married to Katharina Elisabeth Hilchen von Lorch (1730–1791). The couple had several children:
- Maria Sophie (born August 14, 1751)
- Adelheid Maria (born July 25, 1753)
- Johann Bernhard Christian (* August 14, 1755; † 1808) Electorate Hessian Privy Councilor ⚭ 1787 Wilhelmine Karoline Friederike Rademacher von Radehausen (1772–1824), parents of Karl von Heister
- Levin Karl (1757–1816), Prussian Lieutenant General ⚭ Justine Sophie von Westernhagen (April 4, 1758; November 4, 1798)
literature
- Bernhard von Poten : Heister, Philipp von . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 13, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1881, p. 493 f.
- Max von Eelking : The German allied troops in the North American war of independence, 1776–1783. 1893, digitized
- New European newspaper. 1777, digitized death notification of General von Heister
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Continued new genealogical-historical news. 1764, p. 918, digitized
- ^ The German allied troops in the North American war of independence, 1776–1783. 1893, p. 283
- ↑ The German auxiliary troops in the North American wars of liberation. 1863, p. 195, digitized
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Heister, Philipp von |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Heister, Leopold Philip de; Heister, Leopold Philipp Theodor von |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Landgrave Hesse-Kassel Lieutenant General, Commander of the Hessian troops in America |
| DATE OF BIRTH | April 4, 1716 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Homberg |
| DATE OF DEATH | November 19, 1777 |
| Place of death | kassel |