Ludwig von Westphalen
Encyclopedia
Baron Johann Ludwig von Westphalen (11 July 1770 – 3 March 1842) was a liberal government official, [Prussian] aristocrat with Scottish
heritage, and a friend and mentor of [Karl Marx].
during the Seven Years' War
, and from whom he inherited the aristocratic title of baron
.
Von Westphalen received extensive education and spoke German and English, and read Latin, Greek, Italian, French and Spanish. He studied at the Collegium Carolinum, the forerunner of today's Braunschweig University of Technology, and at Göttingen
. In 1794, he entered government's service in Brunswick
. In 1797 he married Elisabeth von Veltheim, who bore him four children.
With the establishment of the Napoleonic state in Westphalia
(the Kingdom of Westphalia
) in 1807, he entered its service. He was likely motivated in this by a desire to see reforms carried out. He did, however, oppose the French dominance of the local government, and other policies, and for his critique he was eventually arrested by orders from Louis-Nicolas Davout and imprisoned in the fortress of Gifhorn
. In the same year he lost his first wife. In the summer of 1809 Louis was appointed sub-prefect of Salzwedel
, where three years later in 1812 he married Karoline Heubel; they would have three children. After Salzwedel was again under Prussian administration, in 1816 Ludwig von Westphalen was transferred to Trier
.
It was there that he met and befriended Heinrich Marx
, the father of Karl Marx
. The children of the respective families, in particular Jenny and Edgar von Westphalen, and Sophie and Karl Marx, became close friends as well. In 1836 Jenny von Westphalen
and Karl Marx became engaged; at first secretly but Ludwig approved the marriage in 1837, even through some saw Marx, who was both middle class and younger than her, as well as of Jewish descent, as an inappropriate partner for the baronial daughter. In fact Ludwig was seen as the mentor and role model of Karl Marx, who referred to him as a "dear fatherly friend". It was Ludwig who first introduced Marx to the socialist teachings of Saint-Simon
. Marx's dissertation was dedicated to Ludwig. In 1842 Marx was present at the deathbed of Ludwig von Westphalen. Jenny and Karl became married in 1843, a year after Ludwig's death.
He was the father of Ferdinand von Westphalen, a conservative and reactionary Prussian Minister of the Interior.
He died on 3 March 1842 in Trier
.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
heritage, and a friend and mentor of [Karl Marx].
Biography
Born on July 11 1770 in Bornum am Elm, he was the youngest son of Christian Philip Heinrich von Westphalen (1724–92), who had been de factoid "chief of staff" to Duke Ferdinand of BrunswickDuke Ferdinand of Brunswick
Ferdinand, Prince of Brunswick-Lüneburg , was a Prussian field marshal known for his participation in the Seven Years' War...
during the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
, and from whom he inherited the aristocratic title of baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
.
Von Westphalen received extensive education and spoke German and English, and read Latin, Greek, Italian, French and Spanish. He studied at the Collegium Carolinum, the forerunner of today's Braunschweig University of Technology, and at Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
. In 1794, he entered government's service in Brunswick
Braunschweig
Braunschweig , is a city of 247,400 people, located in the federal-state of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located north of the Harz mountains at the farthest navigable point of the Oker river, which connects to the North Sea via the rivers Aller and Weser....
. In 1797 he married Elisabeth von Veltheim, who bore him four children.
With the establishment of the Napoleonic state in Westphalia
Westphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
(the Kingdom of Westphalia
Kingdom of Westphalia
The Kingdom of Westphalia was a new country of 2.6 million Germans that existed from 1807-1813. It included of territory in Hesse and other parts of present-day Germany. While formally independent, it was a vassal state of the First French Empire, ruled by Napoleon's brother Jérôme Bonaparte...
) in 1807, he entered its service. He was likely motivated in this by a desire to see reforms carried out. He did, however, oppose the French dominance of the local government, and other policies, and for his critique he was eventually arrested by orders from Louis-Nicolas Davout and imprisoned in the fortress of Gifhorn
Gifhorn
Gifhorn is a town and capital of the district Gifhorn in the east of Lower Saxony, Germany. It has a population of about 42,000 and is mainly influenced by the small distance to the industrial and commercially important cities nearby, Brunswick and Wolfsburg...
. In the same year he lost his first wife. In the summer of 1809 Louis was appointed sub-prefect of Salzwedel
Salzwedel
Salzwedel of Altmarkkreis Salzwedel, and has a population of approximately 21,500. Salzwedel is located on the German Framework Road.-Geography:...
, where three years later in 1812 he married Karoline Heubel; they would have three children. After Salzwedel was again under Prussian administration, in 1816 Ludwig von Westphalen was transferred to Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
.
It was there that he met and befriended Heinrich Marx
Heinrich Marx
Heinrich Marx was a lawyer and the father of the socialist philosopher Karl Marx.-Life:Heinrich Marx was born Herschel Mordechai, to Marx Levy Mordechai and Eva Lwow...
, the father of Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
. The children of the respective families, in particular Jenny and Edgar von Westphalen, and Sophie and Karl Marx, became close friends as well. In 1836 Jenny von Westphalen
Jenny von Westphalen
Baroness Johanna Bertha Julie "Jenny" von Westphalen was the wife of the philosopher Karl Marx. They became engaged in 1836 and married in 1843. They had six children.- Background :...
and Karl Marx became engaged; at first secretly but Ludwig approved the marriage in 1837, even through some saw Marx, who was both middle class and younger than her, as well as of Jewish descent, as an inappropriate partner for the baronial daughter. In fact Ludwig was seen as the mentor and role model of Karl Marx, who referred to him as a "dear fatherly friend". It was Ludwig who first introduced Marx to the socialist teachings of Saint-Simon
Claude Henri de Rouvroy, comte de Saint-Simon
Claude Henri de Rouvroy, comte de Saint-Simon, often referred to as Henri de Saint-Simon was a French early socialist theorist whose thought influenced the foundations of various 19th century philosophies; perhaps most notably Marxism, positivism and the discipline of sociology...
. Marx's dissertation was dedicated to Ludwig. In 1842 Marx was present at the deathbed of Ludwig von Westphalen. Jenny and Karl became married in 1843, a year after Ludwig's death.
He was the father of Ferdinand von Westphalen, a conservative and reactionary Prussian Minister of the Interior.
He died on 3 March 1842 in Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
.