Friedrich Graf von Wrangel
A flamboyant Prussian field marshal whose decades of military service made him a living symbol of the old guard in 19th-century Germany.
1784–1877 (age 93)·Prussian Army general·Birthday: April 13
Biography
Friedrich von Wrangel was a figure who seemed to stride directly out of an earlier age, his long career a bridge between the Napoleonic Wars and the unification of Germany. Known for his bold cavalry charges and even bolder wit, he became a popular, almost folkloric character in Prussia. He commanded forces with distinction in the wars against Napoleon and again during the 1848 revolutions, where his mere presence in Berlin helped quell unrest without major bloodshed. In his old age, his bristling white mustache and traditionalist views made him a revered but increasingly nostalgic symbol as Otto von Bismarck steered Prussia toward a new, modern empire. Appointed a field marshal at 72, Wrangel's life embodied the fading pageantry of the Prussian military aristocracy.
#1 When Friedrich Was Born
The biggest hits of 1784
Friedrich's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1784Born
1789Started school
1797Became a teenager
1800Could drive
1802Could vote
1805Turned 21
1814Turned 30
1824Turned 40
1834Turned 50
1844Turned 60
1854Turned 70
1864Turned 80
President: Abraham Lincoln
1877Died at 93
President: Rutherford B. Hayes
Key Achievements
- Successfully suppressed revolutionary unrest in Berlin in 1848 through a show of force, avoiding a major battle.
- Commanded Prussian forces during the Second Schleswig War against Denmark in 1864.
- Served in the Prussian army for over seven decades, from the Napoleonic era to the wars of German unification.
Did You Know?
He was known for his sharp and often humorous remarks, which were widely repeated in Prussian society.
Wrangel lived to be 93, an exceptional age for a military officer of his era.
A street in Berlin, Wrangelstraße, is named after him.
“A soldier's first duty is to keep his boots clean.”
