Samuel von Schmettau

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Samuel von Schmettau
Schmettausche Map of Berlin (1748)

Samuel Graf von Schmettau (born March 24, 1684 in Berlin ; † August 18, 1751 there ) was Prussian field marshal since June 12, 1741 .

Life

The father Samuel von Schmettau (born November 14, 1657, † August 23, 1709) was the Royal Prussian Chamber Councilor of the embassy in London . His mother Marie de la Fontaine (born January 12, 1660; † September 5, 1732) came from a Huguenot family . Schmettau was drawn to the military at the age of fifteen and served under numerous flags during his career. First he started in a Danish cuirassier regiment, the chief of which was his uncle Friedrich Wilhelm von Schmettau (1663–1735). In 1703 he changed to the margravial-ansbach dragoon as a lieutenantRegiment in which another uncle - Gottlieb von Schmettau - held the chief position. Schmettau experienced his baptism of fire in the battle of Höchstädt , a little later he became captain and company commander. The promotion to major in 1707 was followed by the post of lieutenant colonel a year later . As adjutant general of the Hereditary Prince of Hesse , he witnessed the battle of Malplaquet .

In 1714 Schmettau went with his regiment in the Electoral-Polish service to gain further war experience. On October 22, 1716 he was promoted to colonel of the artillery . Nevertheless, on April 7, 1717, he changed to the imperial service. There Schmettau took part in the conquest of Belgrade . On March 22, 1719 he became sergeant general and came to Sicily as quartermaster general . Emperor Charles VI was impressed by his achievements as an artilleryman and fortress builder . and Prince Eugene . In 1720 he led the siege of Messina , in 1732 the campaign on Corsica against Sardinia and France .

On October 27, 1733 Schmettau was promoted to Lieutenant Field Marshal . He also got the chief post of the O'Gilvy Infantry Regiment (No. 46). With his regiment he then took part in the campaign in 1734/35. Despite some allegations about his way of life, Schmettau was appointed Feldzeugmeister on April 15, 1735 . The years 1737 to 1739 were marked by the campaign against the Turks, which brought him the post of governor of Temesvar . However, since Schmettau was not given any command of the field army, he wanted to go to Veneto , but this failed. Although the promotion to imperial field marshal took place on March 19, 1741, he continued to pursue his intention to change.

The move to his actual homeland took place on June 12, 1741. Schmettau became a Prussian field marshal without having previously led a troop in Prussia. First of all, he distinguished himself as a special envoy by participating in the secret treaty with Austria von Klein-Schellendorf (together with Karl Joseph von Gillern ). On January 18, 1742 Schmettau was awarded the Black Eagle Order. In the period that followed, he represented Prussian interests with Emperor Charles VII , which even earned him the status of imperial count . As envoy in Paris, he helped prepare the 2nd Silesian War . Its diplomatic use came to an end when the Austrians stole secret documents that were later made public.

Schmettau did a great job as curator of the Academy of Sciences . He trained as a cartographer, drew up the first good plan of Berlin and in 1751 of East Friesland . In his “Memoires secrets” he described his experiences, but also made military criticisms.

family

He was married twice. His first wife was Marie Charlotte von Boyen († September 8, 1739), with whom he had several children, including:

  • Samuel Friedrich August (born May 8, 1728)
  • Maria Anna Carolina (born July 28, 1731) ⚭ 1749 Pierre Lefort (born September 4, 1719 - † 1796), Russian major general
  • Maria Maximiliane (born October 3, 1732), canonist

After the death of his first wife, he married Marie Johanna von Riffer on September 24, 1740 (* November 11, 1718; † April 27, 1771). From this marriage came children, including

literature

Web links

Commons : Samuel von Schmettau  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ after M. Gottlieb Schumanns Genealogisches Hand-Buch : Bayer
  2. ↑ Moniteur des Dates, Volume 2, p. 29, digitized
  3. ↑ Jacques Augustine Galiffe Notices GENEALOGIQUES sur les familles genevoises depuis les premiers temps jusqu'à nos jours , Vol 1, p 72, Digitalisat
personal data
SURNAME Schmettau, Samuel von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Schmettau, Samuel Count von; Schmettau, Compte de; Schmettau, Sam. from
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Prussian Field Marshal General
DATE OF BIRTH March 24, 1684
PLACE OF BIRTH Berlin
DATE OF DEATH August 18, 1751
Place of death Berlin