Alfred von dem Knesebeck was born in Berlin on 29 August 1816 to Field Marshal Karl Friedrich von dem Knesebeck and Adolphine von Klitzing. He attended the Gymnasium zum Grauen Kloster in Berlin before commissioning into the Gardes du Corps in 1834, during which he became closely acquainted with Bismarck and Prince Waldemar of Prussia, with whom he maintained a lifelong friendship.[1]
In 1844 he resigned his regular commission in order to take over the management of the family estates, though he remained in the Landwehr until 1859, reaching the rank of Major. In 1858 he witnessed the French colonial campaign in Kabylie.
On 28 September 1843 Knesebeck married Franziska von Bojanowski, daughter of Lieutenant-General Alfred von Bojanowski, following a brief courtship. From 1859 to 1862 and 1866–68 he was a Member of the Prussian House of Representatives,[2] and in 1867 a Member the Reichstag of the North German Confederation.[3]
As a Knight of the Order of St John he became heavily involved in care for the wounded during the Second Schleswig War (1864), the Austro-Prussian War (1866) and the Franco-Prussian War (1871). For these services he received the Order of the Red Eagle, the Order of the Crown with St John device, and the Bavarian Order of Military Merit. At the personal request of Crown Prince Frederick William, he was also presented with the first Iron Cross to be awarded for services in the Order of St John.[4]
In light of his services and those of his father he was granted the joining the barony of Milendonck to that of Knesebeck. The Milendonck family had married into the Knesebeck family in the early 18th century, but had since become extinct. This was granted by royal decree on 10 March 1870.
Prussia
German Empire
