Herbert von Bismarck
Encyclopedia
Herbert, Prince of Bismarck (né Nicolaus Heinrich Ferdinand Herbert von Bismarck) (28 December 1849 – 18 September 1904) was a German politician, who served as Foreign Secretary
from 1886 to 1890. His political career was closely tied to that of his father, Otto von Bismarck
, and he left office a few days after his father's dismissal. He succeeded his father as the 2nd Prince of Bismarck
in 1898.
, the oldest son of Otto von Bismarck
and his wife Johanna, née von Puttkamer
. He had an older sister, Marie (b. 1847), and a younger brother, Wilhelm
(b. 1852). He fought in the Franco-Prussian War
, sustaining a bullet wound through the left leg during a cavalry charge at the Battle of Mars-La-Tour
. He joined the diplomatic service in 1874, on his father's wishes. He became Under-Secretary and acting head of the Foreign Office
in 1885, and the following year he was appointed the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. He additionally was appointed Minister of State
of the Kingdom of Prussia
in 1888. He once said that 'My father is the only person who can handle this business.' He wanted to marry Princess Elisabeth von Carolath-Beuthen in 1881, but his father would not allow it, as she was a Catholic divorcee and she was ten years older than Herbert. The Chancellor pressured his son with tears, blackmail and threats to disinherit him by getting Kaiser Wilhelm I to change the primogeniture statutes. This experience left Herbert a very bitter and alcoholic man. He once shot five bullets through a Foreign Office window to be told he may have hit someone. He replied 'Officials have to be kept in a permanent state of irritation and alarm; the moment that ceases they stop working.' On 21 June 1892 in Vienna
he married Countess Marguerite Hoyos, a member of the originally Spanish magnate family of Hoyos
from Hungary, and the granddaughter of Robert Whitehead
, the inventor of the torpedo
. They had five children:
He entered the civil service in 1874 and was promoted during the chancellorship of his father to the position of undersecretary in the foreign office. He became State Secretary for Foreign Affairs
in 1886.
In 1890, when Kaiser Wilhelm II called for the resignation of Otto von Bismarck as Chancellor, Herbert von Bismarck also resigned as State Secretary.
He was at his father's bedside when the latter died on 30 July 1898 at 10:57 pm.
He died in Friedrichsruh
.
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Germany)
The Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs is the head of the Federal Foreign Office and a member of the Cabinet of Germany. The current office holder is Guido Westerwelle...
from 1886 to 1890. His political career was closely tied to that of his father, 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 he left office a few days after his father's dismissal. He succeeded his father as the 2nd Prince of Bismarck
Fürst von Bismarck
The great German statesman and diplomat Otto von Bismarck received several noble titles during the course of his career.Born into a Junker family as simply Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck, he was created Graf von Bismarck-Schönhausen in 1865, following the Prussian victory over Denmark in the...
in 1898.
Biography
Herbert von Bismarck born in BerlinBerlin
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...
, the oldest son of 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 his wife Johanna, née von Puttkamer
Johanna von Puttkamer
Johanna Friederike Charlotte Dorothea Eleonore von Puttkamer was a Prussian noblewoman, also known as Johanna von Bismarck. She was the sister of statesman Robert von Puttkamer....
. He had an older sister, Marie (b. 1847), and a younger brother, Wilhelm
Wilhelm von Bismarck
Count Wilhelm von Bismarck was a German counselor, civil servant and politician, who served as a member of the Reichstag from 1880 to 1881 and president of the Regency of Hanover from 1889 to 1890...
(b. 1852). He fought in 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...
, sustaining a bullet wound through the left leg during a cavalry charge at the Battle of Mars-La-Tour
Battle of Mars-La-Tour
The Battle of Mars-La-Tour was fought on 16 August 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War near the town of Mars-La-Tour in northeast France. Two Prussian corps encountered the entire French Army of the Rhine in a meeting engagement, and with the surprise entailed, successfully forced the Army of the...
. He joined the diplomatic service in 1874, on his father's wishes. He became Under-Secretary and acting head of the Foreign Office
Foreign Office (Germany)
The Foreign Office is the foreign ministry of Germany, a federal agency responsible for both the country's foreign politics and its relationship with the European Union. From 1871 to 1919, it was led by a Foreign Secretary, and since 1919, it has been led by the Foreign Minister of Germany...
in 1885, and the following year he was appointed the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. He additionally was appointed 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...
of the Kingdom of Prussia
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...
in 1888. He once said that 'My father is the only person who can handle this business.' He wanted to marry Princess Elisabeth von Carolath-Beuthen in 1881, but his father would not allow it, as she was a Catholic divorcee and she was ten years older than Herbert. The Chancellor pressured his son with tears, blackmail and threats to disinherit him by getting Kaiser Wilhelm I to change the primogeniture statutes. This experience left Herbert a very bitter and alcoholic man. He once shot five bullets through a Foreign Office window to be told he may have hit someone. He replied 'Officials have to be kept in a permanent state of irritation and alarm; the moment that ceases they stop working.' On 21 June 1892 in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
he married Countess Marguerite Hoyos, a member of the originally Spanish magnate family of Hoyos
House of Hoyos
The House of Hoyos is a Spanish and Austro-Hungarian noble family. Itderives its name from El Hoyo de Pinares in Ávila, Castile and León, and can be traced to the 9th century...
from Hungary, and the granddaughter of Robert Whitehead
Robert Whitehead
Robert Whitehead was an English engineer. He developed the first effective self-propelled naval torpedo. His company, located in the Austrian naval centre in Fiume, was the world leader in torpedo development and production up to the First World War.- Early life:He was born the son of a...
, the inventor of the torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
. They had five children:
- Countess Hannah Leopoldine Alice von Bismarck-Schönhausen (1893–1971),
- Countess Goedela von Bismarck-Schönhausen (1896–1981),
- HSH Otto Christian Archibald, Prince von BismarckOtto Christian Archibald, Fürst von BismarckOtto Christian Archibald, Prince von Bismarck was a German politician and diplomat, and the Prince of Bismarck from 1904 to his death....
(1897–1975), - Count Gottfried von Bismarck-SchönhausenGottfried Graf von Bismarck-SchönhausenCount Gottfried von Bismarck-Schönhausen was a German politician and German Resistance figure.Born in Berlin, he was a grandson of the Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. He was a member of the Nazi Party and in 1933 he was elected to the Reichstag as a Nazi member...
(1901–1949), - Count Albrecht Edzard Heinrich Karl von Bismarck-Schönhausen (1903–1970) married Mona von BismarckMona von BismarckMona Travis Strader , known as Mona Bismarck, was an American socialite and fashion icon. She was named to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1958.-Early life:...
(1897–1983).
He entered the civil service in 1874 and was promoted during the chancellorship of his father to the position of undersecretary in the foreign office. He became State Secretary for Foreign Affairs
Foreign Minister of Germany
The Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs is the head of the Federal Foreign Office and a member of the Cabinet of Germany. The current office holder is Guido Westerwelle...
in 1886.
In 1890, when Kaiser Wilhelm II called for the resignation of Otto von Bismarck as Chancellor, Herbert von Bismarck also resigned as State Secretary.
He was at his father's bedside when the latter died on 30 July 1898 at 10:57 pm.
He died in Friedrichsruh
Friedrichsruh
Friedrichsruh is a district in the municipality of Aumühle, Herzogtum Lauenburg district, Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany.- History :After the victory over France and the establishment, in 1871, of the German Empire, Otto von Bismarck received the Sachsenwald as a present from Emperor William I...
.
Titles and styles from birth to death
- 1849 - 1865: Jkr. Herbert von Bismarck
- 1865–1898: High Born Count Herbert of Bismarck-Schönhausen
- 1898–1904: His Serene Highness The Prince of Bismarck