Theodor Meydam

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Johann Adolf Theodor Meydam (born September 13, 1827 in Crossen (Oder) , † January 23, 1875 in Berlin ) was a Prussian major general and most recently General Telegraph Director.

Life

origin

His parents were the postal commissioner Michael Meydam and his wife Emilie, née Kramer. His brother Wilhelm Meydam (1821-1907) became mayor of Landsberg an der Warthe .

Career

He received his education at the secondary school in Breslau . After graduating, he volunteered in the 5th pioneer department on October 24, 1845. On October 1, 1846, he moved to the 3rd Engineer Department and was posted to the United Artillery and Engineering School at the same time . On January 28, 1847, he was transferred to the 2nd Engineer Division as a Portepeefähnrich, and on July 1, 1848, he was aggregated as a Second Lieutenant in the 1st Engineer Division . From October 1, 1848 to September 30, 1849 he was again assigned to the artillery and engineering school. On May 30, 1850, he was then aggregated into the 2nd engineering department of the 1st engineering inspection. From there he came to Swinoujscie to build the fortress on August 15, 1851 , then on July 1, 1852 he became adjutant of the 2nd fortress inspection. On October 6, 1854, he was transferred to the General Inspectorate of the Engineer and Pioneer Corps as 3rd Adjutant, and on October 23, 1855 he was promoted to Premier-Lieutenant.
Subsequently, on March 4, 1858, he was posted to Paris for two years to learn the French language; During this time he was promoted to captain on May 31, 1859. After his return he was ordered to do fortification work in the fortress of Erfurt . On July 1, 1860, he came as a commander in the 3rd Company of Pioneer Battalion No. 4. He then joined the General Staff on October 3, 1863, and on January 21, 1864, he was assigned to the General Command of the IV Army Corps.

During the German-Danish War of 1864 he came to the mobile 2nd artillery inspection as a general staff officer. He took part in the siege and the assault on the Düppeler Schanzen . For this he received the Red Eagle Order 4th class with swords and the Austrian Order of the Iron Crown 3rd class with war decorations. On June 25, 1864 he was promoted to major and on October 1, 1864, he joined the General Staff of the 1st Division. During the German War of 1866 he fought near Trautenau , Tobitschau and Königgrätz . For this he received the Crown Order 3rd Class with Swords on September 20, 1866 .

After the war, on October 30, 1866, he joined the General Staff of the 1st Army Corps. On March 28, 1867 he came to serve for six months in the telegraph headquarters, on October 5, 1867 he was released from his command. He was then transferred to the General Staff on January 14, 1868 and at the same time entrusted with the management of the chief of the Department of Engineering in the War Ministry. There he was promoted to lieutenant colonel on March 22, 1868 and confirmed as head of the department on July 1, 1868. On December 16, 1869, he returned to the Telegraph Office, where he became Deputy General Telegraph Director. On January 1, 1870, he came to the army officers wearing the uniform of the Ministry of War, he remained deputy of the Telegraph Director General and was promoted to colonel on July 26, 1870. During the Franco-Prussian War he was Chief of Military Telegraphy in the General Staff. As such, he was at Gravelotte and Sedan , where he acquired the Iron Cross 2nd class and the siege of Paris . On June 13, 1871, he also received the Iron Cross 1st Class.

After the war, on October 4, 1871, he became the authorized representative of the German Empire to conclude a telegraph agreement with Austria , Switzerland (January 1872) and the Netherlands ; on June 18, 1872, he was in the same position in negotiations with Luxembourg . On October 14, 1872, he received the post of General Telegraph Director, succeeding Franz von Chauvin . On July 18, 1874 he got the rank of brigade commander and on October 27, 1874 he was promoted to major general. He died a little later on January 23, 1875 in Berlin and was buried on January 27, 1875 in the military cemetery in Hasenheide .

family

Meydam married on June 12, 1867 in Königsberg in Prussia Alexandrine Marie Douglas (* February 22, 1846 - January 13, 1909), a daughter of the lord of Amalienau Karl Anton Douglas (* July 2, 1817 - December 15, 1885) and Charlotte Alexandrine Warschauer (* May 14, 1819 - August 2, 1913)

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Petra Wilhelmy calls them a leader in the Lyceum Club , cf. The Berlin Salon in the 19th Century: 1780–1914, p. 770, FN. 39.
  2. ↑ Charlotte Alexandrine Warschauer in douglashistory.co.uk
personal data
SURNAME Meydam, Theodor
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Meydam, Johann Adolf Theodor (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Prussian major general and general telegraph director
DATE OF BIRTH September 13, 1827
PLACE OF BIRTH Cross (or)
DATE OF DEATH January 23, 1875
Place of death Berlin