Franz Ludwig von Bibra
Encyclopedia
Franz Ludwig Freiherr (Baron) von Bibra (10 February 1783 – 14 September 1823) was soldier, author, and early settler of Tasmania, Australia.
where he would eventually serve in the Mediterranean Sea. The regiment was disbanded in 1816 and Franz Ludwig considered moving his family to Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania
), Australia. In order to investigate the viability of Van Diemen’s Land he took a position on a ship traveling to Van Diemen’s Land . He spent over a year exploring and gathering information. When he returned to England in 1817, he gathered more information on Van Diemen’s Land. He asked Dr. Carl N. Röding to help compile the material into a book which was published in 1823. (See link below) Franz Ludwig returned to Germany and in 1819 took the position in England as tutor to the two youngest daughters of future King William IV of the United Kingdom
and his mistress Dorothea Jordan: Augusta and Amelia
. He retained this position until 1822. Franz Ludwig's biography of George III was printed in 1820.
After returning to Germany, Franz Ludwig endeavored to emigrate to Van Diemen’s Land with his family. Despite not having sufficient funds for the journey, but with letters of recommendation from the future Queen Victoria’s mother Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
and her brother, His Royal Highness (English) Leopold of Saxe-Coburg
(later King of Belgium). Franz Leopold and his family sailed 25 September 1822. Arriving in Hobart
on 10 January 1823 and persuading the Lieutenant-Governor William Sorell
to give a grant of 1000 acres by the Macquarie River
and ten assigned servants. Franz Ludwig named the property Coburg
after the city near his original home and closely associated with the British royal family. The property near Cressy, Tasmania
(41°45′57"S 147°11′10"E) was later encorporated into the Macquarie Estate. Because of his military experience he was named the Chief District Constable.
). The oldest son was only fourteen at the time of Franz Ludwig’s death. The family struggled for the next several years and on 25 January 1830, the widow Eliza sailed back to England with some of the children.
Book on king George III Georg der Dritte, sein hof und seine Families. Nach englischen Quellen bearbeitet von F.L. von Bibra, Leipzig 1820 Three Volumes 507 pages
Lorenz von Bibra
. Lorenz’ half brother, Wilhelm von Bibra
Papal emissary, Conrad von Bibra
, Prince-Bishop of Würzburg, Duke in Franconia
(1490-1544), Heinrich von Bibra
, Prince-Bishop, Prince-Abbot of Fulda
(1711-1788) and Ernst von Bibra
(* 1806 ; † 1878), naturalist and author.
Franz Ludwig was from the Gleicherwiesen
branch of the von Bibra family. Born in Bamberg
to Friedrich August Anton Dietrich Freiherr (Baron) von Bibra, he was the fifth of seven sons who reached maturity. Franz Ludwig was married to Elizabeth Reily in 1807 (died 1853). They had nine children, eight of which reached adulthood.
Franz Ludwig and Elizabeth Riley had at least thirty-four grandchildren through their sons alone. All Bibras in Australia, New Zealand, Africa and India are their descendants with the exception of native Indians.
Life
Joined the Prussian Army, becoming a second lieutenant in 1801. Resigned commission in 1804 and two years later enlisted in the British army where his older brother Adam Friedrich Heinrich also served. After a brief visit to Germany in 1806, Franz Ludwig joined the Royal Corsican RangersRoyal Corsican Rangers
The Royal Corsican Rangers was a unit of the British Army, composed mainly of Émigrés, which served during the later part of the French Revolutionary Wars and throughout the Napoleonic Wars.-First embodiment:...
where he would eventually serve in the Mediterranean Sea. The regiment was disbanded in 1816 and Franz Ludwig considered moving his family to Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
), Australia. In order to investigate the viability of Van Diemen’s Land he took a position on a ship traveling to Van Diemen’s Land . He spent over a year exploring and gathering information. When he returned to England in 1817, he gathered more information on Van Diemen’s Land. He asked Dr. Carl N. Röding to help compile the material into a book which was published in 1823. (See link below) Franz Ludwig returned to Germany and in 1819 took the position in England as tutor to the two youngest daughters of future King William IV of the United Kingdom
William IV of the United Kingdom
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death...
and his mistress Dorothea Jordan: Augusta and Amelia
Amelia Cary, Viscountess Falkland
Amelia Cary, Viscountess Falkland was the youngest daughter of William IV of the United Kingdom and his mistress Dorothea Jordan. A granddaughter of George III, Amelia was named after her aunt Princess Amelia....
. He retained this position until 1822. Franz Ludwig's biography of George III was printed in 1820.
After returning to Germany, Franz Ludwig endeavored to emigrate to Van Diemen’s Land with his family. Despite not having sufficient funds for the journey, but with letters of recommendation from the future Queen Victoria’s mother Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld was the mother of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.-Early life:...
and her brother, His Royal Highness (English) Leopold of Saxe-Coburg
Leopold I of Belgium
Leopold I was from 21 July 1831 the first King of the Belgians, following Belgium's independence from the Netherlands. He was the founder of the Belgian line of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
(later King of Belgium). Franz Leopold and his family sailed 25 September 1822. Arriving in Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
on 10 January 1823 and persuading the Lieutenant-Governor William Sorell
William Sorell
William Sorell was a soldier and third Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land.-Early life:Sorell was born probably in the West Indies, the eldest son of Lieutenant-general William Alexander Sorell and his wife Jane...
to give a grant of 1000 acres by the Macquarie River
Macquarie River (Tasmania)
The Macquarie River in Tasmania rises near Lake Leake, flowing south and then north-west and through the town of Ross before flowing into the South Esk River near Longford. The Elizabeth, Isis and Lake rivers are tributaries....
and ten assigned servants. Franz Ludwig named the property Coburg
Coburg
Coburg is a town located on the Itz River in Bavaria, Germany. Its 2005 population was 42,015. Long one of the Thuringian states of the Wettin line, it joined with Bavaria by popular vote in 1920...
after the city near his original home and closely associated with the British royal family. The property near Cressy, Tasmania
Cressy, Tasmania
Cressy is a small town located south-west of Launceston, Tasmania. It came into existence in the 1850s to service the surrounding wheat farms. At the 2006 census, Cressy had a population of 670...
(41°45′57"S 147°11′10"E) was later encorporated into the Macquarie Estate. Because of his military experience he was named the Chief District Constable.
Death
Franz Ludwig went hunting and did not return. A search party found his body in the flooding Macquarie River on 14 September 1823. The Coroner’s Inquest verdict on 16 September was “Found drowned, and suffocated in the Macquarie River”although local gossip speculated that Franz Leopold had drowned himself. With the large family now fatherless and penniless, a public appeal was made which raised £165 (including 5 guineas from Lieutenant-Governor William SorellWilliam Sorell
William Sorell was a soldier and third Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land.-Early life:Sorell was born probably in the West Indies, the eldest son of Lieutenant-general William Alexander Sorell and his wife Jane...
). The oldest son was only fourteen at the time of Franz Ludwig’s death. The family struggled for the next several years and on 25 January 1830, the widow Eliza sailed back to England with some of the children.
Author
Book on Settling Tasmania Schilderung der Insel Van Diemensland, einer höchst merkwürdigen Brittischen Colonie in der Südsee. Ein Handbuch für die, welche dahin auszuwandern geneigt wären. Based on Franz Ludwig’s material and edited by Carl N. Röding. Hamburg 1823, reprinted 2010.Book on king George III Georg der Dritte, sein hof und seine Families. Nach englischen Quellen bearbeitet von F.L. von Bibra, Leipzig 1820 Three Volumes 507 pages
von Bibra family
Franz Ludwig was a member of the aristocratic Franconian von Bibra family which among its members were Prince-Bishop of Würzburg, Duke in FranconiaFranconia
Franconia is a region of Germany comprising the northern parts of the modern state of Bavaria, a small part of southern Thuringia, and a region in northeastern Baden-Württemberg called Tauberfranken...
Lorenz von Bibra
Lorenz von Bibra
Lorenz von Bibra, Duke in Franconia was Prince-Bishop of the Bishopric of Würzburg from 1495 to 1519. His life paralleled Maximilian I , who served as Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 to 1519, to which Lorenz did serve as an advisor....
. Lorenz’ half brother, Wilhelm von Bibra
Wilhelm von Bibra
Wilhelm von Bibra was a Papal Emissary.-Papal Emissary:Wilhelm functioned as a Papal Emissary for both the archbishop of Cologne and Kaiser Friedrich. Wilhelm’s half brother, Prince Bishop Lorenz von Bibra of Würzburg, in 1487 wrote a letter of introduction to Pope Innocent VIII for Wilhelm who...
Papal emissary, Conrad von Bibra
Conrad von Bibra
Conrad von Bibra , Duke in Franconia was Prince-Bishop of Würzburg from 1540 to 1544. -Biography:...
, Prince-Bishop of Würzburg, Duke in Franconia
Franconia
Franconia is a region of Germany comprising the northern parts of the modern state of Bavaria, a small part of southern Thuringia, and a region in northeastern Baden-Württemberg called Tauberfranken...
(1490-1544), Heinrich von Bibra
Heinrich von Bibra
Heinrich von Bibra , Prince-Bishop, Prince-Abbot of Fulda was Prince-Bishop from 1759 to 1788.-Biography:...
, Prince-Bishop, Prince-Abbot of Fulda
Fulda
Fulda is a city in Hesse, Germany; it is located on the river Fulda and is the administrative seat of the Fulda district .- Early Middle Ages :...
(1711-1788) and Ernst von Bibra
Ernst von Bibra
Dr. Ernst Freiherr von Bibra was a German Naturalist and author...
(* 1806 ; † 1878), naturalist and author.
Franz Ludwig was from the Gleicherwiesen
Gleicherwiesen
Gleicherwiesen in Thuringia is a part of the Gemeinde Gleichamberg. The Russian restaurant is the main attraction in town and worth visiting.-History:...
branch of the von Bibra family. Born in Bamberg
Bamberg
Bamberg is a city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located in Upper Franconia on the river Regnitz, close to its confluence with the river Main. Bamberg is one of the few cities in Germany that was not destroyed by World War II bombings because of a nearby Artillery Factory that prevented planes from...
to Friedrich August Anton Dietrich Freiherr (Baron) von Bibra, he was the fifth of seven sons who reached maturity. Franz Ludwig was married to Elizabeth Reily in 1807 (died 1853). They had nine children, eight of which reached adulthood.
- Benedict (1809-1884) - namesake of Bibra LakeBibra Lake, Western Australia-Facilities:The majority of the suburb, which is not part of the Beeliar Regional Park contains a major light industrial area, with businesses such as Amcor....
in Western Australia - Friedrich Ulysses (1811-1883)
- Mary Josephine (Maria) (1813-1867)
- Charles (1816-1853)
- Francis Ludwig Jr. (1818-1900)
- Amalia Caroline Louisa (Emily) (1819-1879)
- Wilhelm Carl (1821-1871)
- Jane (1822, died young)
- Leopold Ernst Samuel (1823-1860)
Franz Ludwig and Elizabeth Riley had at least thirty-four grandchildren through their sons alone. All Bibras in Australia, New Zealand, Africa and India are their descendants with the exception of native Indians.
Links
- http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=U8gRAAAAYAAJ&dq=Appel+Bibra+Diemensland&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=hYA98Kqqgv&sig=VMDd7GflDpAcrYEibiHzsbhOM0M&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=6&ct=result#v=onepage&q=&f=false Digital Version of New York City Library copy of FL von Bibra Schilderung der Insel Van Diemensland, einer höchst merkwürdigen Brittischen Colonie in der Südsee. Ein Handbuch für die, welche dahin auszuwandern geneigt wären.