Georg Klindworth
Encyclopedia
Georg Klindworth, born Johann Georg Heinrich Klindworth on 16 April 1798 in Göttingen
, Germany
, was a nineteeth-century German
diplomat
and intelligence agent employed by several European leaders and princes. He was a political exile from the 1848 upheavals
, who had worked as a theater agent
for two years, later as a lawyer
and also as a statesman
. He was for many times described as one of the most influential secret diplomats of his time, from the Congress of Vienna
to the time of Bismarck
.
Klindworth's "illegitimate" daughter Agnes Street-Klindworth (1825-1906) was a lover of the musician Franz Liszt
with whom she had a vast letter correspondence. In political literature, Georg Klindworth is caracterized as "an important political secret agent of international reputation" and also as "a man of extraordinary ability, enterprise, amorality and ubiquity". Georg Klindworth died in a suburb of Paris
in January 1882.
and watchmaker
Johann Andreas Klindworth and Friederike Diederichs. When Georg was sixteen years old he graduated eighth in his class at the University of Göttingen, where from 1816 he studied philology
where he received his doctorate in 1817. From 1819 Klindworth worked as tutor and private secretary to the Portuguese
Ambassador in Berlin
Count Oriolo. From 10 December 1821 Georg Klindworth was admitted to the Prussian
service. On 22 April the following year he tried to persuade the publisher Friedrich Arnold Brockhaus
, as an agent provocateur
, for the anonymous publication of a radical liberal-democratic article, but the plan failed and Klindworth had to leave Berlin after his dismissal on 4 May. Three years later, in 1825, he was tutor to the children of countess Goertz-Wrisberg in Hildesheim
, where he was reported as being a school teacher. In 1827 he went to Brunswick
, where he entered the service of Duke
Charles II of Brunswick
. He was at first as private secretary in the Ducal Government, and from September 1828 Counsellor of Foreign Affairs. In this function he supported the duke in a discussion with the Kingdom of Hannover until that in 1829 he was demoted by the duke.
In September 1830, Charles II
was overthrown and fled to England
. Klindworth, who served as Councillor of state for the duke sought through diplomatic channels his return to Brunswick, but increasing discussions entailed him to finally leave the ducal services in March 1832, after he had already left service for a short time in 1829 because of too low remuneration from the duke. Klindworth then went to Paris
and joined in 1832 for several years the service of French King Louis Philippe I, in whose secret cabinet, he played an important role. In the 1840s, he was entrusted with diplomatic missions and agent jobs from the Austrian
statesman Metternich, the British Foreign Minister Lord
Palmerston, and other European Princes and politicians. Sometimes he was also a double agent
at the same time for several clients.
From 1848 he was employed by King
William I of Württemberg
until his dismissal in 1852 for disloyalty. Klindworth went from Stuttgart
to Weimar
and in the following years various secret missions were assigned to him by the Russian
Emperor
Nicholas I
and his successor Tsar
Alexander II
.
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:...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, was a nineteeth-century German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and intelligence agent employed by several European leaders and princes. He was a political exile from the 1848 upheavals
Revolutions of 1848 in the German states
The Revolutions of 1848 in the German states, also called the March Revolution – part of the Revolutions of 1848 that broke out in many countries of Europe – were a series of loosely coordinated protests and rebellions in the states of the German Confederation, including the Austrian Empire...
, who had worked as a theater agent
Agent
Agent may refer to one who acts for, or in the place of, another, by authority from him; one entrusted with the business of another.- In law enforcement :...
for two years, later as a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and also as a statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
. He was for many times described as one of the most influential secret diplomats of his time, from the Congress of Vienna
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, and held in Vienna from September, 1814 to June, 1815. The objective of the Congress was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars,...
to the time of Bismarck
Bismarck
- People :* Bismarck family, a German noble family descending from Herebord von Bismarck* Otto von Bismarck , German statesman of the 19th century* Herbert von Bismarck , Secretary of State, son of Otto von Bismarck...
.
Klindworth's "illegitimate" daughter Agnes Street-Klindworth (1825-1906) was a lover of the musician Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
with whom she had a vast letter correspondence. In political literature, Georg Klindworth is caracterized as "an important political secret agent of international reputation" and also as "a man of extraordinary ability, enterprise, amorality and ubiquity". Georg Klindworth died in a suburb of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in January 1882.
Life and work
Klindworth was the third child of court mechanicMechanic
A mechanic is a craftsman or technician who uses tools to build or repair machinery.Many mechanics are specialized in a particular field such as auto mechanics, bicycle mechanics, motorcycle mechanics, boiler mechanics, general mechanics, industrial maintenance mechanics , air conditioning and...
and watchmaker
Watchmaker
A watchmaker is an artisan who makes and repairs watches. Since virtually all watches are now factory made, most modern watchmakers solely repair watches. However, originally they were master craftsmen who built watches, including all their parts, by hand...
Johann Andreas Klindworth and Friederike Diederichs. When Georg was sixteen years old he graduated eighth in his class at the University of Göttingen, where from 1816 he studied philology
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
where he received his doctorate in 1817. From 1819 Klindworth worked as tutor and private secretary to the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
Ambassador in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
Count Oriolo. From 10 December 1821 Georg Klindworth was admitted to the Prussian
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
service. On 22 April the following year he tried to persuade the publisher Friedrich Arnold Brockhaus
Friedrich Arnold Brockhaus
Friedrich Arnold Brockhaus was a German encyclopedia publisher and editor, famed for publishing the Conversations-Lexikon, which is now published as the Brockhaus encyclopedia.-Biography:...
, as an agent provocateur
Agent provocateur
Traditionally, an agent provocateur is a person employed by the police or other entity to act undercover to entice or provoke another person to commit an illegal act...
, for the anonymous publication of a radical liberal-democratic article, but the plan failed and Klindworth had to leave Berlin after his dismissal on 4 May. Three years later, in 1825, he was tutor to the children of countess Goertz-Wrisberg in Hildesheim
Hildesheim
Hildesheim is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located in the district of Hildesheim, about 30 km southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste river, which is a small tributary of the Leine river...
, where he was reported as being a school teacher. In 1827 he went to Brunswick
Brunswick
-Australia:* Brunswick, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne* Electoral district of Brunswick, an electoral district in Victoria* Brunswick Junction, Western Australia, a town near Bunbury* Brunswick Heads, a town on the North Coast of New South Wales-Canada:...
, where he entered the service of Duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
Charles II of Brunswick
Charles II, Duke of Brunswick
Charles II , Duke of Brunswick, ruled the Duchy of Brunswick from 1815 until 1830.-Biography:Charles was the eldest son of Frederick William, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
. He was at first as private secretary in the Ducal Government, and from September 1828 Counsellor of Foreign Affairs. In this function he supported the duke in a discussion with the Kingdom of Hannover until that in 1829 he was demoted by the duke.
In September 1830, Charles II
Charles II
Charles II may refer to:* Charles the Bald , king of the West Franks and Holy Roman Emperor* Charles II of Naples * Charles II of Alençon * Charles II of Navarre * Charles II, Duke of Lorraine...
was overthrown and fled to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Klindworth, who served as Councillor of state for the duke sought through diplomatic channels his return to Brunswick, but increasing discussions entailed him to finally leave the ducal services in March 1832, after he had already left service for a short time in 1829 because of too low remuneration from the duke. Klindworth then went to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and joined in 1832 for several years the service of French King Louis Philippe I, in whose secret cabinet, he played an important role. In the 1840s, he was entrusted with diplomatic missions and agent jobs from the Austrian
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
statesman Metternich, the British Foreign Minister Lord
Lord
Lord is a title with various meanings. It can denote a prince or a feudal superior . The title today is mostly used in connection with the peerage of the United Kingdom or its predecessor countries, although some users of the title do not themselves hold peerages, and use it 'by courtesy'...
Palmerston, and other European Princes and politicians. Sometimes he was also a double agent
Double agent
A double agent, commonly abbreviated referral of double secret agent, is a counterintelligence term used to designate an employee of a secret service or organization, whose primary aim is to spy on the target organization, but who in fact is a member of that same target organization oneself. They...
at the same time for several clients.
From 1848 he was employed by King
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
William I of Württemberg
William I of Württemberg
William I was the second King of Württemberg from October 30, 1816 until his death.He was born in Lüben, the son of King Frederick I of Württemberg and his wife Duchess Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel .-First marriage:...
until his dismissal in 1852 for disloyalty. Klindworth went from Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
to Weimar
Weimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
and in the following years various secret missions were assigned to him by the Russian
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
Emperor
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
Nicholas I
Nicholas I of Russia
Nicholas I , was the Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855, known as one of the most reactionary of the Russian monarchs. On the eve of his death, the Russian Empire reached its historical zenith spanning over 20 million square kilometers...
and his successor Tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
Alexander II
Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881...
.
Literature
- Alfred Stern:Georg Klindworth. A secret political agent of the 19 Century. In: Historical Quarterly. publisher JCB Mohr, Tübingen 1931, p. 430-458.
- Pauline Pocknell:Franz Liszt and Agnes Street-Klindworth. A Correspondence, 1854-1886. Franz Liszt Studies Series No.8. Pendragon Press, 2001 ISBN 978-1576470060 Hillsdale (pp. xxix ff)
- Dieter Lent:Klindworth, Johann Georg Heinrich. In: Horst-Rüdiger Jarck, Günter Scheel (ed.): Biographical Dictionary Brunswick: 19 and 20 Century. Hahnsche publishing bookshop, Hannover 1996, ISBN 3-7752-5838-8, p. 322.