[Born in Hanover, 1756. Died at Prague, 1813. Aged 57.]
A very distinguished general of his day. He served first in the
Hanoverian service, then in the army of the King of England, and finally
in that of Prussia. In the war with France, in 1806, he contributed
greatly to the brilliant retreat on Lübeck, effected by Blucher. After
the peace of Tilsit, he was named President of the Commission for the
re-organization of the Prussian army, and his energy and wisdom enabled
Prussia to bring a finely appointed army of 200,000 men into the field,
after Napoleon’s Russian reverses. He was wounded at Lutzen, and died at
Prague shortly afterwards. In 1804, he had been appointed by the King of
Prussia, conjointly with Baron Knesebeck, instructor to the Prince
Royal: and at one time of his life he wrote several works on military
subjects, which gained him great repute.
[By Rauch. Modelled in 1819, and executed in bronze by order of King
Frederic William III. It stands in the Pleasure Garden near the Royal
Palace at Potsdam. A colossal bust, taken from the same model, was
done by Rauch, by order of King Louis of Bavaria, for the Walhalla.]