Wilhelm Sponneck
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Carl Eppingen Sponneck (16 February 1815, Ringkøbing
– 29 February 1888) was a Danish
nobleman (rigsgreve) and Minister of Finance. In 1863, he accompanied 17 year old Prince Vilhelm of Denmark
to Greece
where Vilhelm had just been elected king. Sponneck served as advisor to the king for a few years.
Sponneck graduated as a student of Sorø Academy
in 1832 and took a law degree in 1836. He was employed in the Danish customs service and rose to a leading position in the 1840s after publishing a 600-page work about customs services. The king
appointed him member of the Constitutional Assembly
in 1848. The same year, he was appointed Finance Minister, an office he occupied in a total of five cabinets. He was first a supporter of the Unitary State with Holstein
but during the First War of Schleswig
he switched to a pro-Danish policy, and in 1850 he enacted a temporary law removing the customs differences between Denmark and Schleswig
, and later the same year, he enacted a similar law abolishing the Danish-Schleswig customs border altogether. In 1850-51, he tried to introduce the income tax
, a proposal rejected by Parliament. Sponneck's proposal to introduce stamp
s was more successful and the first Danish stamps were issued in 1851.http://runeberg.org/dbl/16/0240.html
In January 1851, Sponneck travelled to Berlin
and conducted negotiations with Prussia
and Austria
trying to establish a peace settlement that maintained the Danish/Schleswig/Holsteinish union while securing extra close ties between the two first components. This initiative ultimately failed and following the conclusion of peace in 1851, Sponneck abandoned his pro-Danish sympathies and returned to defending the pre-war Unitary State.http://runeberg.org/dbl/16/0238.html. In 1853, Parliament rejected his proposal to remove the customs border between Denmark/Schleswig and Holstein by applying the same rates everywhere. Sponneck replied by enacting the law anyway citing the king's
absolutist
powers in the two duchies, consequently issuing the law in the name of the king.http://runeberg.org/dbl/16/0238.html
After this turn of events, Parliament ultimately approved the law. He later tried to enforce the use of Danish coinage in Southern Schleswig and Holstein, a policy that gave him many enemies.http://runeberg.org/dbl/16/0238.html His popularity dropped even lower when he in 1854 proposed a return to absolutist royal rule in matters relating to Danish-Holsteinish affairs.http://runeberg.org/dbl/16/0239.html Sponneck left politics in 1854, and was appointed leader of the customs service, a position he occupied until 1863.
In 1863, the accompanied the future king of Greece
to his new country. He remained in Greece for a few years, acting as advisor to the king.
Following his return to Denmark, his became involved in private enterprise. In 1866, he became chairman of the control commission for the Zealandic railways. In 1868, he became the director of the National Bank
and joined the board of the Great Northern Telegraph Company. Sponneck later resigned these positions and became the leader of the newly-founded Kjøbenhavns Handelsbank and chairman for the insurance company, Danmark.
Ringkøbing
Ringkøbing is a town in Ringkøbing-Skjern municipality in Region Midtjylland on the west coast of the Jutland peninsula in west Denmark. The town has a population of 9,742 .-History:...
– 29 February 1888) was a Danish
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...
nobleman (rigsgreve) and Minister of Finance. In 1863, he accompanied 17 year old Prince Vilhelm of Denmark
George I of Greece
George I was King of Greece from 1863 to 1913. Originally a Danish prince, George was only 17 years old when he was elected king by the Greek National Assembly, which had deposed the former king Otto. His nomination was both suggested and supported by the Great Powers...
to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
where Vilhelm had just been elected king. Sponneck served as advisor to the king for a few years.
Sponneck graduated as a student of Sorø Academy
Sorø Academy
Sorø Academy is a boarding school and public gymnasium located in the small town of Sorø, Denmark. It traces its history back to the 12th century when Bishop Absalon founded a monastery at the site, which was confiscated by the Crown after the Reformation, and ever since, on and off, it has served...
in 1832 and took a law degree in 1836. He was employed in the Danish customs service and rose to a leading position in the 1840s after publishing a 600-page work about customs services. The king
Frederick VII of Denmark
Frederick VII was a King of Denmark. He reigned from 1848 until his death. He was the last Danish monarch of the older Royal branch of the House of Oldenburg and also the last king of Denmark to rule as an absolute monarch...
appointed him member of the Constitutional Assembly
Constitution of Denmark
The Constitutional Act of Denmark is the Kingdom of Denmark's constitution, or fundamental law. Originally verified in 1849, the last revision was signed on 5 June 1953 as "the existing law, for all to unswerving comply with, the Constitutional Act of Denmark".-Idea and structure:The main...
in 1848. The same year, he was appointed Finance Minister, an office he occupied in a total of five cabinets. He was first a supporter of the Unitary State with Holstein
Holstein
Holstein is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is part of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany....
but during the First War of Schleswig
First War of Schleswig
The First Schleswig War or Three Years' War was the first round of military conflict in southern Denmark and northern Germany rooted in the Schleswig-Holstein Question, contesting the issue of who should control the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein. The war, which lasted from 1848–1851,...
he switched to a pro-Danish policy, and in 1850 he enacted a temporary law removing the customs differences between Denmark and Schleswig
Schleswig
Schleswig or South Jutland is a region covering the area about 60 km north and 70 km south of the border between Germany and Denmark; the territory has been divided between the two countries since 1920, with Northern Schleswig in Denmark and Southern Schleswig in Germany...
, and later the same year, he enacted a similar law abolishing the Danish-Schleswig customs border altogether. In 1850-51, he tried to introduce the income tax
Income tax
An income tax is a tax levied on the income of individuals or businesses . Various income tax systems exist, with varying degrees of tax incidence. Income taxation can be progressive, proportional, or regressive. When the tax is levied on the income of companies, it is often called a corporate...
, a proposal rejected by Parliament. Sponneck's proposal to introduce stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
s was more successful and the first Danish stamps were issued in 1851.http://runeberg.org/dbl/16/0240.html
In January 1851, Sponneck travelled to 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...
and conducted negotiations with 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...
and Austria
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
trying to establish a peace settlement that maintained the Danish/Schleswig/Holsteinish union while securing extra close ties between the two first components. This initiative ultimately failed and following the conclusion of peace in 1851, Sponneck abandoned his pro-Danish sympathies and returned to defending the pre-war Unitary State.http://runeberg.org/dbl/16/0238.html. In 1853, Parliament rejected his proposal to remove the customs border between Denmark/Schleswig and Holstein by applying the same rates everywhere. Sponneck replied by enacting the law anyway citing the king's
Frederick VII of Denmark
Frederick VII was a King of Denmark. He reigned from 1848 until his death. He was the last Danish monarch of the older Royal branch of the House of Oldenburg and also the last king of Denmark to rule as an absolute monarch...
absolutist
Absolutism (European history)
Absolutism or The Age of Absolutism is a historiographical term used to describe a form of monarchical power that is unrestrained by all other institutions, such as churches, legislatures, or social elites...
powers in the two duchies, consequently issuing the law in the name of the king.http://runeberg.org/dbl/16/0238.html
After this turn of events, Parliament ultimately approved the law. He later tried to enforce the use of Danish coinage in Southern Schleswig and Holstein, a policy that gave him many enemies.http://runeberg.org/dbl/16/0238.html His popularity dropped even lower when he in 1854 proposed a return to absolutist royal rule in matters relating to Danish-Holsteinish affairs.http://runeberg.org/dbl/16/0239.html Sponneck left politics in 1854, and was appointed leader of the customs service, a position he occupied until 1863.
In 1863, the accompanied the future king of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
to his new country. He remained in Greece for a few years, acting as advisor to the king.
Following his return to Denmark, his became involved in private enterprise. In 1866, he became chairman of the control commission for the Zealandic railways. In 1868, he became the director of the National Bank
Danmarks Nationalbank
Danmarks Nationalbank is the central bank of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is a non-eurozone member of the European System of Central Banks . The bank issues the Danish currency, the krone....
and joined the board of the Great Northern Telegraph Company. Sponneck later resigned these positions and became the leader of the newly-founded Kjøbenhavns Handelsbank and chairman for the insurance company, Danmark.
External links
- Biography from Dansk Biografisk Leksikon
- www.gentofte.dk - List of famous people buried on Gentofte Cemetery