Archibald Nikolaus Gebhard Keyserlingk (1759 - 1829)

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Died 28 Nov 1829 at age 70 in Breslau, Schlesien

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Biography

kgl. Preussischer Hofmarschall Graf Archibald Nikolaus Gebhard v. K. (1759-1829). 1774 came to Koenigsberg to study, living at the home of his uncle, Christian Heinrich v. K., and meeting Prof Kant, under whom he studied. In 1778 commissioned into Drag. Regt. v. Bosse (Faehnrich) and took part in the War of Bavarian secession, earning recognition from the King. On 26 Oct 1784 transferred by Royal command to the personal service of the King, as "Chamberlain" with a salary of 1200 Ecus. Mainly employed in diplomatic work but also active in disaster management, such as the rescue of victims of the Oder floods in 1785. Later in 1785 sent to England then to France (in the revolution and the Netherlands. 1790 back in Berlin, having inherited Lichtenau estates. 1793 appointed Hofmarschall (Pte Sec) to King Fred. Wilh. II's second son Louis (+1796). 1794 engaged (?) in support of the Polish insurrection against Russian rule. 1795 organised the rebuild of the royal Schloss at Schwedt for his Prince's court. 1797 engaged in delicate negotiations for the hand of the widowed Princess Louise - the suitors being the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Louis Ferdinand - thou^[1]gh the flighty widowed Princess eventually fell for the rough charms of a Prinz Solms and, much to Archibald's discomfiture, married him. Archibald's position deteriorated further during the Napoleonic campaign against Prussia. He turned down an offer to serve in the Court of the Napoleonic King Jérôme of Westphalia and retired to live modestly on estates in Silesia (Strunz and Blumenau). He died in Breslau.

Sources

1. ↑ Memoire of Cecilie v. Keyserlingk

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