Friedrich Wilhelm von Arnim-Boitzenburg

Friedrich Wilhelm von Arnim-Boitzenburg (31 December 1739 – 21 January 1801) was a Prussian civil servant and Minister of War.

Friedrich Wilhelm von Arnim-Boitzenburg
Chief Minister of the Kingdom of Prussia
In office
1786–1798
MonarchsFrederick William II
Frederick William III
Preceded byFriedrich Anton von Heynitz
Succeeded byChristian von Haugwitz
Personal details
Born(1739-12-31)31 December 1739
Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia
Died21 January 1801(1801-01-21) (aged 61)
Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia
Spouse
Baroness Freda Antoinette von Cramm
(m. 1764; died 1801)
RelationsAdolph Friedrich von der Schulenburg (grandfather)
Georg Dietloff von Arnim-Boitzenburg (grandfather)
Children2
EducationUniversity of Göttingen

Early life

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Arnim was born 31 December 1739 in Berlin into the noble Arnim family. He was the only child of Abraham Wilhelm von Arnim-Boitzenburg (1712–1761), and Anna Elisabeth von der Schulenburg (eldest daughter of Adolph Friedrich von der Schulenburg). His paternal grandfather was Georg Dietloff von Arnim-Boitzenburg.[1]

Career

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Boitzenburg Castle

After studying law in Göttingen, he began his career in the Prussian civil service as a councilor at the Chamber Court in Berlin. In 1764, he became a councilor and assessor at the Uckermark Higher Court, and in 1769 he became a secret judicial councilor and director of the Pupillary college and the Uckermark Higher Court, which he presided over until 1780. In 1786 he was appointed real secret budget, war and directing minister and vice president of the general directorate.[1]

Arnim was raised to the hereditary Prussian count on 2 October 1786 by King Frederick William II. He was also a Knight of the Order of the Red Eagle.[1]

He became president of the forestry department and chief hunter. In these two offices he made lasting contributions to the promotion of forestry and agriculture in Prussia. From 1786 to 1798 he was Royal Prussian Minister of State and War. In 1798 he took his leave for health reasons.[1]

Personal life

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Monument for Count von Arnim-Boitzenburg, by Johann Gottfried Schadow

In 1764 Arnim was married to Baroness Freda Antoinette von Cramm (1747–1817), a daughter of Baron Franz Jakob von Cramm and Anna Magdalena Wilhelmine von Krosigk. Together, they were the parents of two children:[1]

Arnim died in Berlin on 21 January 1801.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Arnim, Friedrich Wilhelm Graf von". www.deutsche-biographie.de (in German). Deutsche Biographie. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Arnim, Friedrich Abraham Wilhelm von". www.deutsche-biographie.de (in German). Deutsche Biographie. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  3. ^ Barclay, David E. (1995). Frederick William IV and the Prussian Monarchy, 1840-1861. Clarendon Press. p. 21. ISBN 978-0-19-820430-5. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  4. ^ The Titled Nobility of Europe: An International Peerage, Or "Who's Who", of the Sovereigns, Princes and Nobles of Europe. Harrison & Sons. 1914. p. 267. Retrieved 15 January 2024.