Friedrich Albrecht zu Eulenburg
Encyclopedia
Count Friedrich Albrecht zu Eulenburg (29 June 1815 – 2 June 1881) was a Prussian
diplomat
and politician. He led the Eulenburg Expedition
and secured the Prusso-Japanese Treaty of 24 January 1861, which was similar to other unequal treaties
that European powers held Eastern Countries to.
, 26 December 1787 - Königsberg
, 30 July 1845) and Amalie Julie Eleonore née von Kleist
(Perkuiken
, 26 May 1792 - Königsberg
, 16 November 1830).
Eulenburg studied law at the Universities of Königsberg
and Bonn
and worked as a government official in Oppeln then in various ministries in Berlin
. In 1852 he entered the diplomatic service
as the Prussian Consul-General in Antwerp. The expansion of Prussian trade led to the search of commercial partners in South-East and Eastern Asia and he was chosen to lead an extensive trade mission. Departing in October 1859 he set out for Japan
, China
and Siam.
In January 1861, he concluded a commercial treaty with the Bakufu, which was based on Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Amity and Commerce
. In September the same year, he concluded a commercial treaty with the Qing Empire, which was similar to the Treaties of Tianjin that Britain
and France
had concluded with China three years earlier.
Following his return the he was appointed the Interior Minister of Prussia
on 8 December 1862. Following the growth in the administrative area of Prussian state in 1864 and 1866, Eulenburg unstituted comprehensive administrative reform also in the old provinces. However he was met by opposition by the Catholic
s in the west and the liberals
in the east. He accompanied King Wilhelm I of Prussia in the negotiations with the French ambassador Count Benedetti at Bad Ems
prior to the Franco-Prussian War
.
His plan to reform the municipal administration in Prussia was opposed by Otto von Bismarck
and Eulenburg resigned on 30 November 1878 to be succeeded by his first cousin once removed Botho zu Eulenburg
.
on 23 October 1811. He was the brother of
Eulenburg was not married and had no children.
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and politician. He led the Eulenburg Expedition
Eulenburg Expedition
The Eulenburg Expedition was a diplomatic mission conducted by Friedrich Albrecht zu Eulenburg on behalf of Prussia and the German Customs Union in 1859-62...
and secured the Prusso-Japanese Treaty of 24 January 1861, which was similar to other unequal treaties
Unequal Treaties
“Unequal treaty” is a term used in specific reference to a number of treaties imposed by Western powers, during the 19th and early 20th centuries, on Qing Dynasty China and late Tokugawa Japan...
that European powers held Eastern Countries to.
Biography
Eulenburg was born in Königsberg. He was the oldest surviving child of Friedrich Leopold Graf zu Eulenburg (PrassenProsna, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship
Prosna is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Korsze, within Kętrzyn County, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in northern Poland. It lies approximately north-west of Korsze, north-west of Kętrzyn, and north-east of the regional capital Olsztyn....
, 26 December 1787 - Königsberg
Königsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
, 30 July 1845) and Amalie Julie Eleonore née von Kleist
Von Kleist
Von Kleist is a Pomeranian Prussian noble family. Notable members of this family include:* Ewald Jürgen Georg von Kleist ; co-inventor of the Leyden jar* Ewald Christian von Kleist ; German poet and soldier...
(Perkuiken
Perkujki
Perkujki is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Bartoszyce, within Bartoszyce County, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in northern Poland, close to the border with the Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia. It lies approximately south-west of Bartoszyce and north of the regional capital...
, 26 May 1792 - Königsberg
Königsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
, 16 November 1830).
Eulenburg studied law at the Universities of Königsberg
University of Königsberg
The University of Königsberg was the university of Königsberg in East Prussia. It was founded in 1544 as second Protestant academy by Duke Albert of Prussia, and was commonly known as the Albertina....
and Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
and worked as a government official in Oppeln then in various ministries in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. In 1852 he entered the diplomatic service
Diplomatic service
Diplomatic service is the body of diplomats and foreign policy officers maintained by the government of a country to communicate with the governments of other countries. Diplomatic personnel enjoy diplomatic immunity when they are accredited to other countries...
as the Prussian Consul-General in Antwerp. The expansion of Prussian trade led to the search of commercial partners in South-East and Eastern Asia and he was chosen to lead an extensive trade mission. Departing in October 1859 he set out for Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Siam.
In January 1861, he concluded a commercial treaty with the Bakufu, which was based on Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Amity and Commerce
Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Amity and Commerce
The was signed on August 26, 1858 by Lord Elgin and the then representatives of the Japanese government . This was an unequal treaty, that gave Japan semi-colonial status.The concessions which Japan made were threefold:...
. In September the same year, he concluded a commercial treaty with the Qing Empire, which was similar to the Treaties of Tianjin that Britain
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
and 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...
had concluded with China three years earlier.
Following his return the he was appointed the Interior Minister of Prussia
Interior Minister of Prussia
This page lists Prussian Ministers of the Interior. See also Interior Ministers of Germany.-Prussian Ministers of the Interior, 1808-1918:*Count Alexander von Dohna-Schlobitten 1808-1810*Count Karl August von Hardenberg 1810-1814...
on 8 December 1862. Following the growth in the administrative area of Prussian state in 1864 and 1866, Eulenburg unstituted comprehensive administrative reform also in the old provinces. However he was met by opposition by the Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
s in the west and the liberals
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
in the east. He accompanied King Wilhelm I of Prussia in the negotiations with the French ambassador Count Benedetti at Bad Ems
Bad Ems
Bad Ems is a town in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is the county seat of the Rhein-Lahn rural district and is well known as a bathing resort on the river Lahn...
prior to the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
.
His plan to reform the municipal administration in Prussia was opposed by Otto von Bismarck
Otto von Bismarck
Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg , simply known as Otto von Bismarck, was a Prussian-German statesman whose actions unified Germany, made it a major player in world affairs, and created a balance of power that kept Europe at peace after 1871.As Minister President of...
and Eulenburg resigned on 30 November 1878 to be succeeded by his first cousin once removed Botho zu Eulenburg
Botho zu Eulenburg
Botho Graf zu Eulenburg was a Prussian statesman.- Biography :Eulenburg was born in Wicken near Bartenstein to Botho Heinrich zu Eulenburg and Therese née von Dönhoff...
.
Family
Eulenburg's parents married at KönigsbergKönigsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
on 23 October 1811. He was the brother of
- Adalbert Graf zu Eulenburg (10 November 1812 - 17 June 1814)
- Marie Gräfin zu Eulenburg (13 October 1813 - 10 February 1818)
- Eliese Gräfin zu Eulenburg (KönigsbergKönigsbergKönigsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
, 27 August 1817 - BerlinBerlinBerlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, 15 June 1853), who died unmarried and without issue, and - Philipp Graf zu Eulenburg (KönigsbergKönigsbergKönigsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
, 24 April 1820 - BerlinBerlinBerlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, 5 March 1889), married in BerlinBerlinBerlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, 22 April 1846 Alexandrine Freiin von Rothkirch und Panthen (Glogau, 20 June 1824 - Meran, 11 April 1902), the parents of Prince Philip of Eulenburg.
Eulenburg was not married and had no children.
Awards
- Order of the Red Eagle (1862)