Marshal._
[Born at Rostock, in Germany, 1742. Died in Silesia, 1819. Aged 77.]
First entered the Swedish army. Taken prisoner by the Prussians, whom he
joined, but expelled from this service for duelling and dissipation.
Retired to the country, married, and, after fourteen years’ quiet,
returned to the army as Major of the very regiment which he had quitted
as Captain. Then commenced a glorious military career, proudly
terminating with his opportune appearance on the field of Waterloo. In
1814, visited England with the allied sovereigns, and was
enthusiastically received. A rough and fearless soldier, brave, honest,
free, beloved by his comrades, devoted to his country, and a bitter
hater of his country’s foes. As a general, daring, reckless, and
impetuous, to the detriment of otherwise high military qualifications.
In temper he was vehement and irascible, and an ardent lover of
pleasure. His soldiers gave him the nickname of “Marshal Forwards.”
[Bust, by Rauch. 1816. Marble. This is the bust presented by King
Frederic William III. to the Duke of Wellington, and is in the gallery
at Apsley House. The large intaglio (No. 360A) is from the monument at
Kriblowitz, a small village near the city of Kant, in Silesia, and
about ten English miles from Breslau. It was erected about six years
ago by order of King Frederic William IV. of Prussia, and is designed
after the ancient Roman sepulchre of Cæcilia Metella, but on a smaller
scale, being thirty feet high. It is constructed entirely of granite,
and the ceiling is formed of one large block. A marble sarcophagus
within contains the remains of Blucher. The monument at Löwenberg, on
the river Bober in Silesia, was erected by King Frederic William IV.
to commemorate the battle of Katsbach, won by Blucher over the French
in 1813. It consists of a colossal bust in marble upon a pedestal of
grey marble, bearing an inscription. The bust, No. 360B, was
sculptured by Berger, a pupil of Rauch’s, after the head of the
colossal statue in bronze by Rauch, which stands in the Place at
Breslau.]
360A. GEBHARDT LEBRECHT VON BLUCHER, PRINCE OF WAHLSTADT. _Prussian
Field Marshal._
360B. GEBHARDT LEBRECHT VON BLUCHER, PRINCE OF WAHLSTADT. _Prussian
Field Marshal._