Ferdinand von Bismarck facts for kids

Ferdinand Herbord Ivar, Prince of Bismarck (in German: Ferdinand Herbord Ivar Fürst von Bismarck; born November 22, 1930 – died July 23, 2019) was a German lawyer and a landowner. He was a member of the famous House of Bismarck, a family known for the statesman Otto von Bismarck. Ferdinand was the head of the princely branch of this important family.

Early Life and Education

Styles of The Prince of Bismarck
Reference style	His Serene Highness
Spoken style	Your Serene Highness

Ferdinand was born in London, England. His father, Otto Christian Archibald von Bismarck, was a politician and diplomat. His mother was Ann-Mari Tengbom, a Swedish socialite.

He was the great-grandson of the famous German statesman Otto von Bismarck. He was also the grandson of statesman Herbert von Bismarck and the Swedish architect Ivar Tengbom.

Ferdinand spent his childhood in London and Rome. His father worked there as a diplomat. In 1944, his father left the foreign service. This was because of his connections to a resistance group during World War II. Ferdinand was then sent to Sweden. He did not return to Germany until 1947.

After returning, he studied at the Schule Schloss Salem, a well-known boarding school. In the early 1950s, he lived in Brazil for a few years. There, he worked for the German–Brazilian Chamber of Commerce. Later, he studied law and earned his law degree in 1956.

Career and Business Ventures

After finishing his studies, Ferdinand worked for the European Commission in Brussels. This organization helps different European countries work together.

From 1967, he worked as a lawyer in Hamburg, Germany. His home was in Friedrichsruh. This estate was given to his great-grandfather by Emperor William I.

Ferdinand was also involved in several important organizations. He was a board member of the Otto von Bismarck Foundation. He was also a patron of the Bismarckbund and the Bismarck Order. He chaired the Duchy of Lauenburg Foundation.

He managed his family's large estate in Friedrichsruh. This included the Sachsenwald, a huge forest of about 6,000 hectares (about 14,800 acres) near Hamburg. He sold parts of the forest for building homes, just like his father had done. He also bought farmland in Uruguay, which he later sold.

Ferdinand also invested in Marbella, Spain. He was a well-known member of the Marbella Club. He started a community of luxury villas called the „Marbella Hill Club“. He also bought a large apartment building in Monte Carlo. In 1989, he sold a big part of the Sachsenwald forest. He kept about 4,500 hectares (about 11,100 acres) for his family.

Ferdinand died in a hospital in Reinbek, Germany, at the age of 88.

Family Life

In 1960, Ferdinand married Elisabeth Lippens from Belgium. She was the daughter of Count Léon Lippens and the granddaughter of politician Count Maurice Lippens. They had four children together:

• Carl-Eduard, Prince von Bismarck-Schönhausen (born February 16, 1961). He was a member of the Bundestag, which is the German parliament, for a short time.
  • Count Alexei von Bismarck-Schönhausen
  • Countess Grace
• Count Gottfried von Bismarck-Schönhausen (1962–2007).
• Count Gregor von Bismarck-Schönhausen (born 1964).
  • Countess Marina (born 1986)
    • Heidi Swindle
    • Otto Swindle
  • Count Léon (born 2002)
  • Count Otis (born 2007)
  • Countess Wilhelmina (born 2009)
• Countess Vanessa von Bismarck-Schönhausen (born 1971). Vanessa studied at the London School of Economics. She now runs a public relations company in New York.

Ferdinand was known as Count of Bismarck-Schönhausen from his birth. When his father passed away in 1975, he became the Prince. His oldest son, Carl von Bismarck, became the next Prince. This followed the rules set in 1871.

Ferdinand was a godfather to King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. King Willem-Alexander also attended Ferdinand's funeral. Ferdinand had been a college friend of Prince Claus. They studied law together in Hamburg. Later, Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus chose him as a groomsman for their wedding in 1966.

Many important people visited Friedrichsruh. These included King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and King Juan Carlos I of Spain with their wives. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor also visited.