Otto Theodor von Manteuffel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Otto Theodor von Manteuffel
6th Minister President of Prussia
In office 9 December 1850 – 6 November 1858
Monarch	Frederick William IV
Preceded by	Friedrich Wilhelm, Count Brandenburg
Succeeded by	Karl Anton, Prince of Hohenzollern
Foreign Minister of Prussia
In office 2 November 1850 – 6 November 1858
Monarch	Frederick William IV
Preceded by	Joseph von Radowitz
Succeeded by	Alexander von Schleinitz
Personal details
Born	(1805-02-03)3 February 1805 Lübben (Spreewald), Brandenburg, kingdom of Prussia
Died	26 November 1882(1882-11-26) (aged 77) Gut Krossen, German Empire

Otto Theodor Freiherr von Manteuffel (born February 3, 1805 – died November 26, 1882) was an important politician in Prussia. He was a conservative statesman who served as the prime minister for almost ten years.

Early Life and Education

Otto Theodor von Manteuffel was born into a noble family in Lübben (Spreewald). From 1819, he attended a special school called Landesschule Pforta. Later, between 1824 and 1827, he studied law (called jurisprudence) and public administration (called cameralism) at the University of Halle. While there, he joined a student club known as Corps Saxonia Halle.

Political Career and Reforms

Manteuffel began his career in law in 1830. He quickly moved up in government. In 1833, he became a local administrator, known as a Landrat, for the district of Luckau. By 1841, he was a senior administrator in Königsberg, and in 1843, he became Vice-President of the government in Stettin.

In 1844, he was appointed as an expert advisor to the Ministry of State. He also became a member of the royal Council of State. He worked in finance before becoming Director at the Ministry of the Interior in 1845. In 1847, he showed his skills in Parliament, supporting the existing government system and opposing ideas for more liberal laws.

In November 1848, Manteuffel joined the government as the Minister of the Interior. For the next ten years, he held various important roles and was highly favored by King Friedrich Wilhelm IV.

Shaping the Prussian Constitution

Manteuffel played a big part in writing the Prussian constitution of December 5, 1848. However, he also helped announce changes to it in January 1850, which removed some important parts. He then defended these changes in Parliament.

After the revolutions of 1848, Manteuffel became an important reformer in the Prussian government. He believed the government should act as a mediator between different groups in society. He often disagreed with very conservative politicians who didn't fully accept the new constitution. He famously said that the Prussian state should no longer act "like the landed estate of a nobleman."

Economic and Press Reforms

Manteuffel had more success with other reforms. He worked to create a less controlled economy. In 1856, as Minister-President, he helped remove government controls over money flowing to banks. He also limited how much the government supervised the iron and coal industries.

Manteuffel also changed how the Prussian state dealt with the press. Before, the government would censor newspapers directly. After 1848, they started fining publications that printed things harmful to the state. Manteuffel decided to reduce this conflict. Instead of direct censorship, the government started placing "government-friendly articles in key journals." This was a major change. The government began to participate in public discussions rather than just controlling them. Manteuffel understood that the power of the press had grown as more people became involved in public affairs.

Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister Role

When the Count of Brandenburg died, Manteuffel temporarily took over foreign affairs. In November 1850, he was involved in the Agreement of Olmütz. In this agreement, Prussia gave up some constitutional rights of Kurhessen and Holstein to Austria. He tried to calm unhappy members of the Bundestag by saying, "The strong man takes a step back."

On December 19, 1850, he was officially appointed Prussian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. In this role, he took part in the negotiations for the Treaty of Paris in 1856. He stayed in these positions until October 1858, when the king stepped down and the Prince of Prussia became regent (someone who rules for the king).

On November 6, 1858, Manteuffel and his entire government were dismissed. He then retired to his estate. He was later elected to the Prussian House of Representatives but did not play a major role. From 1864, he was a member of the Prussian House of Lords.

Honors and Legacy

Manteuffel received many honors during his lifetime. On February 6, 1850, he was made an honorary citizen of Berlin. A street in Berlin, Manteuffelstraße in Kreuzberg, was named after him. Another Manteuffelstraße was opened in Wilhelmshaven in 1869, with King Wilhelm I present. He was also an honorary citizen of Danzig, Brandenburg an der Havel, Stettin, and all the towns of the Niederlausitz.

He passed away at Gut Krossen in Luckau in Niederlausitz.

Awards and Decorations

See also

• Manteuffel cabinet