German Chancery
Encyclopedia
The German Chancery was the official name given to the office of the Hanoverian ministry
in London
during the years of personal union
between Great Britain
(later the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
) and the Electorate of Hanover
(later Kingdom of Hanover
) from 1714 until 1837. The office ceased upon the accession of Queen Victoria
in the United Kingdom and Ernest Augustus
in Hanover in 1837.
and the Elector of Hanover, who was the king of Great Britain. During the reigns of George I
, George II
, and most of the active reign of George III
, the ministers held few other duties, working in two small rooms within St James's Palace. Politically, the ministers held little power in Hanover or in Great Britain throughout the eighteenth century.
Unlike the many ministers in Hanover, however, the minister in London was required to have an in-depth knowledge of the British political system and the current opinions of the two major political parties – namely the Tory
and Whig factions – and most importantly, he had constant and direct access to the elector. As the position matured, namely during the French Revolutionary Wars
, it became more politically responsible, especially under the administration of Baron Münster
, who worked tirelessly to make the Hanoverian cause known to the British people. He was rewarded with the expansion of Hanover's borders and the elevation of the electorate to a kingdom during the Congress of Vienna
in 1814. While the final minister achieved little recognition in comparison, the post had become all but defunct by the 1830s as the union between the crowns was reaching its inevitable end. The last minister returned to Hanover in 1837 with Ernest Augustus, the new Hanoverian king, and the post was thereafter unnecessary. The records of the chancery are now located in the state archives of Hanover.
in 1688, a Hanoverian minister was resident in London as an emissary to English court for the rights and claims of Sophia, Electress of Hanover
to the English succession. The position survived until the death of Bothmer in 1732, although most of the functions of the office had been assumed by the Chancery. The known Hanoverian envoys are:
so there is some uncertainty about the succession of the heads of the German Chancery. It is certain that after the retirement of Bernstorff in 1720, there were multiple heads of the Chancery. This practice ended after Bothmer's death in 1732. The probable succession of ministers in London is as follows:
Privy Council of Hanover
The Privy Council of the Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg, popularly known as Hanover, was the administrative branch of the electoral government of Hanover. Its members were known as ministers and often controlled indirectly the other branches of the government, except the military which was...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
during the years of personal union
Personal union
A personal union is the combination by which two or more different states have the same monarch while their boundaries, their laws and their interests remain distinct. It should not be confused with a federation which is internationally considered a single state...
between Great Britain
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
(later the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
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 the Electorate of Hanover
Electorate of Hanover
The Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg was the ninth Electorate of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation...
(later Kingdom of Hanover
Kingdom of Hanover
The Kingdom of Hanover was established in October 1814 by the Congress of Vienna, with the restoration of George III to his Hanoverian territories after the Napoleonic era. It succeeded the former Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg , and joined with 38 other sovereign states in the German...
) from 1714 until 1837. The office ceased upon the accession of Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
in the United Kingdom and Ernest Augustus
Ernest Augustus I of Hanover
Ernest Augustus I was King of Hanover from 20 June 1837 until his death. He was the fifth son and eighth child of George III, who reigned in both the United Kingdom and Hanover...
in Hanover in 1837.
Functions and duties
The primary duty of the Hanoverian minister in London was to transmit memoranda between the Privy Council of HanoverPrivy Council of Hanover
The Privy Council of the Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg, popularly known as Hanover, was the administrative branch of the electoral government of Hanover. Its members were known as ministers and often controlled indirectly the other branches of the government, except the military which was...
and the Elector of Hanover, who was the king of Great Britain. During the reigns of George I
George I of Great Britain
George I was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1 August 1714 until his death, and ruler of the Duchy and Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the Holy Roman Empire from 1698....
, George II
George II of Great Britain
George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...
, and most of the active reign of George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
, the ministers held few other duties, working in two small rooms within St James's Palace. Politically, the ministers held little power in Hanover or in Great Britain throughout the eighteenth century.
Unlike the many ministers in Hanover, however, the minister in London was required to have an in-depth knowledge of the British political system and the current opinions of the two major political parties – namely the Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
and Whig factions – and most importantly, he had constant and direct access to the elector. As the position matured, namely during the French Revolutionary Wars
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
, it became more politically responsible, especially under the administration of Baron Münster
Ernst zu Münster
Count Ernst Friedrich Herbert zu Münster was a German statesman, politician and minister in the service of the House of Hanover....
, who worked tirelessly to make the Hanoverian cause known to the British people. He was rewarded with the expansion of Hanover's borders and the elevation of the electorate to a kingdom during the Congress of Vienna
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, and held in Vienna from September, 1814 to June, 1815. The objective of the Congress was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars,...
in 1814. While the final minister achieved little recognition in comparison, the post had become all but defunct by the 1830s as the union between the crowns was reaching its inevitable end. The last minister returned to Hanover in 1837 with Ernest Augustus, the new Hanoverian king, and the post was thereafter unnecessary. The records of the chancery are now located in the state archives of Hanover.
Hanoverian Envoys in London
Prior to the Hanoverian succession but following the Glorious RevolutionGlorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
in 1688, a Hanoverian minister was resident in London as an emissary to English court for the rights and claims of Sophia, Electress of Hanover
Sophia of Hanover
Sophia of the Palatinate was an heiress to the crowns of England and Ireland and later the crown of Great Britain. She was declared heiress presumptive by the Act of Settlement 1701...
to the English succession. The position survived until the death of Bothmer in 1732, although most of the functions of the office had been assumed by the Chancery. The known Hanoverian envoys are:
- Ludwig Justus Sinold von Schütz (1689 – 1713)
- Thomas Grote, Baron von Grote (1713)
- Georg Wilhelm Sinold von Schütz (1713 – 1714)
- C. F. Kreyenberg (1714)
- Hans Kaspar, Count von BothmerHans Caspar von BothmerHans Caspar von Bothmer was a Hanoverian diplomat and politician. He is most notable for his time spent in Britain after 1701, when he served as an advisor to several British monarchs....
(1714 – 1732)
Heads of the German Chancery in London
The records for the ministers now reside in HanoverHanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
so there is some uncertainty about the succession of the heads of the German Chancery. It is certain that after the retirement of Bernstorff in 1720, there were multiple heads of the Chancery. This practice ended after Bothmer's death in 1732. The probable succession of ministers in London is as follows:
- Andreas Gottlieb, Baron von BernstorffAndreas Gottlieb von BernstorffAndreas Gottlieb von Bernstorff, Baron von Bernstorff was prime minister of the electorate of Hanover from 1709 to 1714 and head of the German Chancery in London from 1714 to 1723....
(1714 – 1720) - Hans Kaspar, Count von BothmerHans Caspar von BothmerHans Caspar von Bothmer was a Hanoverian diplomat and politician. He is most notable for his time spent in Britain after 1701, when he served as an advisor to several British monarchs....
(1720 – 1730) - Christian Ulrich von Hardenberg (1725 – 1727)
- Johann Philipp von HattorfJohann Philipp von HattorfJohann Philipp von Hattorf was a Hanoverian minister and head of the German Chancery in London from 1723 until 1737. He was the son of Johann von Hattorf and Anna Mülle, and married Marie Margarethe von Molan on 29 July 1705. Hattorf was one of fifteen ministers and advisers who came to Great...
(1728 – 1737) - Ernst von SteinbergErnst von SteinbergErnst Steinberg, Baron von Steinberg was a Hanoverian minister and head of the German Chancery in London from 1737 until 1748. He was the son of Georg von Steinberg and Eva von Korff. He married Marie Luise von Wendt in 1726 and replaced Johann Philipp von Hattorf as German Chancery head upon his...
(1737 - 1748) - Philipp Adolph von Münchhausen (1748 - 1762)
- Burckhard Heinrich von Behr (1762 - 1771)
- Johann Friedrich Carl von Alvensleben (1771 - 1795)
- Georg August von Steinberg (1795)
- Ernst Ludwig Julius von Lenthe (1795 - 1805)
- Ernst Friedrich Herbert, Graf zu Münster-LedeburgErnst zu MünsterCount Ernst Friedrich Herbert zu Münster was a German statesman, politician and minister in the service of the House of Hanover....
(1805-1831) - Ludwig Conrad Georg von Ompteda (1831-1837)