Count Karl-Wilhelm Finck von Finckenstein
Encyclopedia
Karl Wilhelm Finck von Finckenstein (11 February 1714 – 3 January 1800) was a Prussian diplomat and later Prime Minister
of Prussia
.
He was the son of Count Albrecht Konrad Finck von Finckenstein, who was a Field Marshal
and Governor of the Crown Prince, the future King Frederick II
. Karl Wilhelm studied in Geneva
and traveled in France
and the Netherlands
. In 1735 he was appointed to the Prussian diplomatic service.
Frederick II, who became king in 1740, knew Finckenstein well from his own childhood and had great confidence in him. Frederick sent him as minister to Sweden
until 1740, then to Denmark
, and in 1742 to Britain
. In 1744 he went again to Sweden, when Frederick's sister Louisa Ulrika
married King Adolf Frederick of Sweden
. In 1747, Finckenstein was made a Minister of state
, and became envoy to Russia
.
He returned to Prussia in 1749, where he became a Cabinet Minister and henceforth the most trusted advisor to the King.
During the Seven Years War, Frederick issued a secret decree on 10 January 1757, "for the case of his death or capture", which appointed Finckenstein to run the country in that event.
After the end of the Seven Years War, Finckenstein had sole control of Prussia's foreign relations, and had also a prevailing influence on the King. This continued after Frederick's death in 1780, under his successor Frederick William II of Prussia
, and right up to Finckenstein's death in 1800.
In 1785, he negotiated the Prussian-American Treaty of Amity and Commerce
with the United States Ambassador to France
Thomas Jefferson
(1785–1789), and renewed it in 1799 after negotiations with United States Ambassador to Prussia
John Quincy Adams
(1797–1801). The Treaty promoted free trade and commerce and additionally demanded the unconditionally humane custody for war prisoner, a novelty at the time.
Finckenstein died 3 January 1800. He was 85 years old, and had been a State Minister for 53 years. He was a knight of the Order of the Black Eagle
.
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
.
He was the son of Count Albrecht Konrad Finck von Finckenstein, who was a Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
and Governor of the Crown Prince, the future King Frederick II
Frederick II of Prussia
Frederick II was a King in Prussia and a King of Prussia from the Hohenzollern dynasty. In his role as a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire, he was also Elector of Brandenburg. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel...
. Karl Wilhelm studied in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
and traveled in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. In 1735 he was appointed to the Prussian diplomatic service.
Frederick II, who became king in 1740, knew Finckenstein well from his own childhood and had great confidence in him. Frederick sent him as minister to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
until 1740, then to Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, and in 1742 to Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. In 1744 he went again to Sweden, when Frederick's sister Louisa Ulrika
Louisa Ulrika of Prussia
Louisa Ulrika of Prussia was Queen of Sweden between 1751 and 1771 as the spouse of King Adolf Frederick of Sweden, and queen mother during the reign of King Gustav III of Sweden.-Background:...
married King Adolf Frederick of Sweden
Adolf Frederick of Sweden
Adolf Frederick or Adolph Frederick was King of Sweden from 1751 until his death. He was the son of Christian August of Holstein-Gottorp, Prince of Eutin and Albertina Frederica of Baden-Durlach....
. In 1747, Finckenstein was made a Minister of state
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
, and became envoy to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
He returned to Prussia in 1749, where he became a Cabinet Minister and henceforth the most trusted advisor to the King.
During the Seven Years War, Frederick issued a secret decree on 10 January 1757, "for the case of his death or capture", which appointed Finckenstein to run the country in that event.
After the end of the Seven Years War, Finckenstein had sole control of Prussia's foreign relations, and had also a prevailing influence on the King. This continued after Frederick's death in 1780, under his successor Frederick William II of Prussia
Frederick William II of Prussia
Frederick William II was the King of Prussia, reigning from 1786 until his death. He was in personal union the Prince-Elector of Brandenburg and the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel.-Early life:...
, and right up to Finckenstein's death in 1800.
In 1785, he negotiated the Prussian-American Treaty of Amity and Commerce
Treaty of Amity and Commerce (Prussia-USA)
thumb|250px|Frederick the Greatthumb|250px|George Washingtonthumb|250px|Thomas JeffersonThe Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the Kingdom of Prussia and the United States of America was a treaty negotiated by Count Karl-Wilhelm Finck von Finckenstein, Prussian Prime Minister, and Thomas...
with the United States Ambassador to France
United States Ambassador to France
This article is about the United States Ambassador to France. There has been a United States Ambassador to France since the American Revolution. The United States sent its first envoys to France in 1776, towards the end of the four-centuries-old Bourbon dynasty...
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
(1785–1789), and renewed it in 1799 after negotiations with United States Ambassador to Prussia
United States Ambassador to Germany
The United States has had diplomatic relations with the nation of Germany and its predecessor nation, the Kingdom of Prussia, since 1835. These relations were broken twice while Germany and the United States were at war...
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former...
(1797–1801). The Treaty promoted free trade and commerce and additionally demanded the unconditionally humane custody for war prisoner, a novelty at the time.
Finckenstein died 3 January 1800. He was 85 years old, and had been a State Minister for 53 years. He was a knight of the Order of the Black Eagle
Order of the Black Eagle
The Order of the Black Eagle was the highest order of chivalry in the Kingdom of Prussia. The order was founded on 17 January 1701 by Elector Friedrich III of Brandenburg . In his Dutch exile after WWI, deposed Emperor Wilhelm II continued to award the order to his family...
.