Biographies : 187
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BiographyHAUGWITZ, Christian August Heinrich Kurt Graf von
Born into the Silesian (Protestant) branch of the ancient Haugwitz family, he studied law before being elected in 1791 by the Silesian estates as general director of the province. Frederick William II appointed him to the Prussian civil service and he became ambassador at Vienna in 1792, also becoming a member of the cabinet at […]
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BiographyHiller, Johann Freiherr von
Though there is much confusion over the place and date, a majority of sources agree that Johann Freiherr von Hiller was born on 10 June, 1754 in Brody (Galicia). His father was a colonel in (and subsequently commander of) the garrison in Brody, later ennobled in 1772 in recompense for his 45-year military service. At […]
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BiographyHOHENLOHE, Friedrich Ludwig von
A member of the Württemberg nobility who entered Prussian military service in 1768 and fought in the Rhine theatre during the War of the First Coalition, commanding a division at the successful defence of Kaiserlautern against Hoche in November 1793. At 60, he was one of the Prussian Army's more youthful commanders at the start […]
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BiographyHOHENZOLLERN-HECHINGEN, Friedrich Franz Xaver von and zu, Austrian Prince
Prince Friedrich Franz Xaver von and zu Hohenzollern-Hechingen, Burggrave of Nurnberg, Graf zu Sigmaringen and Währingen, Privy Councillor and Chamberlain, Feldmareschall, Commander of the Order of Maria Theresa (1809), member of the Order of the golden Fleece (1826), and Grand Croix of the order of Leopold (1830). Friedrich Franz Xaver followed in his father's footsteps […]
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BiographyISABEY, Jean-Baptiste
The portrait painter of the great and the good of Europe, Isabey was born son of a merchant in Nancy in 1767. He studied painting in Nancy with two local Lorraine artists: Girardet (architecture and decoration) and Claudot (landscape). At the age of 19, in 1786, he went up to Paris, with a letter of […]
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BiographyJOMINI, Antoine Henri, Baron de
The man they called the “devin de Napoléon” (the man who guessed what Napoleon was about), because he wrote a definition of his way of making war, was born in Payerne (Switzerland), in the Vaud canton on 6 March, 1779, into a wealthy family (Payerne (Vaud) is 50 km S.-E. of Berne. Jomini was born at […]
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BiographyJOSEPHINE (Marie-Joseph-Rose de Tascher de la Pagerie)
(1763-1814) It is extremely difficulty to get a real historical picture of Josephine; such has been the power of the Josephine ‘legend'. Early 19th-century British caricatures presented Josephine in a sexual and political light. And still today, the colour of accounts of Josephine's life is set by the traditional story of her meeting with Napoleon, […]
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BiographyJUAREZ, Benito
Benito Juarez was born at San-Pablo-Guelatao (Oaxaca, Mexico) on 21 March, 1806, to poor indigenous parents of the Zapotec tribe (who died a few years after his birth). After a period of illiteracy and extreme poverty, Benito came to the city of Oaxaca to join his sister who worked as a servant for the Maza […]
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BiographyJurien de la Gravière, Jean-Pierre, (1812-1892) Vice-Admiral
Jurien de la Gravière was born at Brest on 19 November, 1812. He entered the army in 1828, and distinguished himself at a very young age through his talents. Appointed Capitaine de Frégate in 1841, he then carried out a three-year campaign in the Far East (1847-1850). He was then promoted to Capitaine de vaisseau […]
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BiographyKLEIST VON NOLLENDORF, Friedrich (Friedrich Heinrich Ferdinand Emil Graf Kleist von Nollendorf)
A Prussian officer, and later Generalfeldmarschall. He was born in Berlin on 9 April, 1763 and died on 17 February, 1823. He took part in the 1793-95 campaign against France at the rank of captain in the infantry, winning the Pour le Mérite medal in 1793.After this he commanded an Infantry Battalion in the “von […]