Jakob von Washington
Encyclopedia
Baron Jakob von Washington (January 26, 1778 – April 5, 1848) was a Lieutenant General
in the Bavarian Army
and a distant relative of US President George Washington
. Born in The Hague
, Netherlands
, he was christened James Washington, but officially named Jacobus Washington. Most of his adult life was shaped by his participation in wars for and against Napoleonic France and his service to Ludwig I of Bavaria
.
. One of his descendants, John Washington
, emigrated to Virginia
in 1656 and was the great-grandfather of George Washington. The brother of Sir Robert, Sir John Washington (d. 1331), founded the Hallhead Hall/Adwick-le-street branch of the Washingtons. His descendant, James Washington, accompanied John Washington to Virginia, but returned to England, then shortly thereafter emigrated to Rotterdam
, Holland. There he married a Dutchwoman named Clara van der Lauen, leading, five generations later, to Jacobus Washington.
was not a happy one. In 1799, in a letter to George Washington, Jacobus offered his services to the United States in its undeclared Quasi-War
with France, but was turned down due to his inexperience. He then moved to the Kingdom of Bavaria
, where he joined the Bavarian Army. He came to the attention of Crown Prince Ludwig
, who made Jakob his adjutant
. In July 1807 Jakob was present at the negotiations for the Treaties of Tilsit
following the victory of the French Empire (of which Bavaria was now an ally) over Russia. Over the next few years he advanced to the rank of Colonel
.
In October 1813, Bavaria
joined the Allies
against France. On June 7, 1815 in Brussels, Jakob Washington signed a treaty with the Duke of Wellington
representing Bavaria. On the night of June 15, 1815, prior to the Battle of Quatre Bras
, Jakob was an invited guest at the now famous Duchess of Richmond's ball
. He fought in the Battle of Waterloo
, the only Bavarian officer to do so, since the rest of the Bavarians were held in reserve in Saarbrücken
.
In 1825, Ludwig became King of Bavaria
as Ludwig I. Washington's career continued apace, rising eventually to Lieutenant General. On December 8, 1829 Ludwig made him Freiherr
(Baron) von Washington. Ludwig also appointed him Grand Chamberlain and Marshal of his military household. In 1843, on a visit to London, Queen Victoria dubbed
him a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.
, Bavaria. They had a son, Carl Theodor von Washington (1833–1897). Baron Jakob von Washington died in Notzing on April 5, 1848.
Maximilian Emanuel also became Grand Chamberlain, married Duchess Frederica of Oldenburg (sister of Queen Amalia of Greece), and had two sons, one of whom, named George, served in the 11th Hussars of the Austro-Hungarian army reaching the rank of captain. However, despite reports to the contrary, he did not fight during the First World War, having retired before the War started. Both sons died without issue, and since none of Jakob's other children had any offspring, the von Washington line went extinct.
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
in the Bavarian Army
Bavarian army
The Bavarian Army was the army of the Electorate and then Kingdom of Bavaria. It existed from 1682 as the standing army of Bavaria until the merger of the military sovereignty of Bavaria into that of the German State in 1919...
and a distant relative of US President George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
. Born in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, he was christened James Washington, but officially named Jacobus Washington. Most of his adult life was shaped by his participation in wars for and against Napoleonic France and his service to Ludwig I of Bavaria
Ludwig I of Bavaria
Ludwig I was a German king of Bavaria from 1825 until the 1848 revolutions in the German states.-Crown prince:...
.
Origins
The known history of the Washington family goes back to the 12th century. Sir Robert Washington (d. 1324) was the progenitor of the branch of the family residing in Sulgrave Manor, EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. One of his descendants, John Washington
John Washington
John Washington was an English Virginia planter and politician. He was the immigrant ancestor and great-grandfather of George Washington, first president of the United States of America.-Early life and family:...
, emigrated to Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in 1656 and was the great-grandfather of George Washington. The brother of Sir Robert, Sir John Washington (d. 1331), founded the Hallhead Hall/Adwick-le-street branch of the Washingtons. His descendant, James Washington, accompanied John Washington to Virginia, but returned to England, then shortly thereafter emigrated to Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, Holland. There he married a Dutchwoman named Clara van der Lauen, leading, five generations later, to Jacobus Washington.
Early life
On February 2, 1777, Daniel Washington, aged 46 and a military soliciter, married Elisabeth Cornelia Hoogstad. Jacobus was born on January 26, 1778. His only sibling, Daniel, was born July 27, 1781. Their father died in October 1786, and their mother in September 1789, leaving them orphaned at 11 and 8 years old. Little is known of their lives for some years after. Daniel remained in the Netherlands, married in 1808, and died in 1813, apparently without children.Military career
In 1794, aged 16, Jacobus Washington joined the Dutch Army. When the French invaded later that year he fought against them. His lot under French domination in the new Batavian RepublicBatavian Republic
The Batavian Republic was the successor of the Republic of the United Netherlands. It was proclaimed on January 19, 1795, and ended on June 5, 1806, with the accession of Louis Bonaparte to the throne of the Kingdom of Holland....
was not a happy one. In 1799, in a letter to George Washington, Jacobus offered his services to the United States in its undeclared Quasi-War
Quasi-War
The Quasi-War was an undeclared war fought mostly at sea between the United States and French Republic from 1798 to 1800. In the United States, the conflict was sometimes also referred to as the Franco-American War, the Pirate Wars, or the Half-War.-Background:The Kingdom of France had been a...
with France, but was turned down due to his inexperience. He then moved to the Kingdom of Bavaria
Kingdom of Bavaria
The Kingdom of Bavaria was a German state that existed from 1806 to 1918. The Bavarian Elector Maximilian IV Joseph of the House of Wittelsbach became the first King of Bavaria in 1806 as Maximilian I Joseph. The monarchy would remain held by the Wittelsbachs until the kingdom's dissolution in 1918...
, where he joined the Bavarian Army. He came to the attention of Crown Prince Ludwig
Ludwig I of Bavaria
Ludwig I was a German king of Bavaria from 1825 until the 1848 revolutions in the German states.-Crown prince:...
, who made Jakob his adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
. In July 1807 Jakob was present at the negotiations for the Treaties of Tilsit
Treaties of Tilsit
The Treaties of Tilsit were two agreements signed by Napoleon I of France in the town of Tilsit in July, 1807 in the aftermath of his victory at Friedland. The first was signed on 7 July, between Tsar Alexander I of Russia and Napoleon I of France, when they met on a raft in the middle of the Neman...
following the victory of the French Empire (of which Bavaria was now an ally) over Russia. Over the next few years he advanced to the rank of Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
.
In October 1813, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
joined the Allies
War of the Sixth Coalition
In the War of the Sixth Coalition , a coalition of Austria, Prussia, Russia, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Sweden, Spain and a number of German States finally defeated France and drove Napoleon Bonaparte into exile on Elba. After Napoleon's disastrous invasion of Russia, the continental powers...
against France. On June 7, 1815 in Brussels, Jakob Washington signed a treaty with the Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
representing Bavaria. On the night of June 15, 1815, prior to the Battle of Quatre Bras
Battle of Quatre Bras
The Battle of Quatre Bras, between Wellington's Anglo-Dutch army and the left wing of the Armée du Nord under Marshal Michel Ney, was fought near the strategic crossroads of Quatre Bras on 16 June 1815.- Prelude :...
, Jakob was an invited guest at the now famous Duchess of Richmond's ball
Duchess of Richmond's ball
The Duchess of Richmond's ball was held in Brussels on 15 June 1815, the night before the Battle of Quatre Bras. The Duchess's husband Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond was in command of a reserve force in Brussels, which was protecting that city in case Napoleon Bonaparte invaded.Elizabeth...
. He fought in the Battle of Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
, the only Bavarian officer to do so, since the rest of the Bavarians were held in reserve in Saarbrücken
Saarbrücken
Saarbrücken is the capital of the state of Saarland in Germany. The city is situated at the heart of a metropolitan area that borders on the west on Dillingen and to the north-east on Neunkirchen, where most of the people of the Saarland live....
.
In 1825, Ludwig became King of Bavaria
King of Bavaria
King of Bavaria was a title held by the hereditary Wittelsbach rulers of Bavaria in the state known as the Kingdom of Bavaria from 1805 until 1918, when the kingdom was abolished...
as Ludwig I. Washington's career continued apace, rising eventually to Lieutenant General. On December 8, 1829 Ludwig made him Freiherr
Freiherr
The German titles Freiherr and Freifrau and Freiin are titles of nobility, used preceding a person's given name or, after 1919, before the surname...
(Baron) von Washington. Ludwig also appointed him Grand Chamberlain and Marshal of his military household. In 1843, on a visit to London, Queen Victoria dubbed
Accolade
In the Middle Ages, the accolade was the central act in the rite-of-passage ceremonies conferring knighthood.-Ceremony:...
him a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.
Family
Jakob's first wife was baroness Antonie van Löchner (born Baroness von Verger) (1788–1830), a wealthy widow. They had two sons, Ludwig August (1827–1845) and Maximilian Emanuel von Washington (1829–1903). After her death, he married baroness Caroline Segesser von Brunegg (1802–1841) in 1833. Through this marriage he gained the Castle Notzing, near the town of ErdingErding
Erding is a town in Bavaria, Germany, and capital of the district Erding. It had a population of 34,122 in 2004. It is twinned with Bastia in CorsicaThe original Erdinger Weissbier is a well-known Bavarian specialty...
, Bavaria. They had a son, Carl Theodor von Washington (1833–1897). Baron Jakob von Washington died in Notzing on April 5, 1848.
Maximilian Emanuel also became Grand Chamberlain, married Duchess Frederica of Oldenburg (sister of Queen Amalia of Greece), and had two sons, one of whom, named George, served in the 11th Hussars of the Austro-Hungarian army reaching the rank of captain. However, despite reports to the contrary, he did not fight during the First World War, having retired before the War started. Both sons died without issue, and since none of Jakob's other children had any offspring, the von Washington line went extinct.