Ludwig von Henk
Encyclopedia
Ludwig von Henk was a German naval officer, who distinguished himself in the Prussian Navy
and later in the Imperial German Navy of the German Empire
. He retired as a Vice-Admiral.
Henk was born in Anklam
, Province of Pomerania. He began his career in merchant ships, making journeys to Brazil
, the Mediterranean, and the Black Sea
. In 1844, he was promoted to Captain. After the establishment of the Prussian Navy
in 1849, he entered as an auxiliary officer, becoming a Kapitänleutnant in 1855 and a Korvettenkapitän in 1859.
In 1861 he went to Berlin as the head of the Hydrographic Bureau in the Prussian War Ministry. In 1865, he became captain of the steam corvette Nymphe, which was sent to the Mediterranean.
During the Austro-Prussian War
of 1866, Henk was commander of the Prussian North Sea Fleet, and in 1867 was promoted to the rank of Post-Captain
[Kapitän zur See]. In the Franco-Prussian War
, he commanded the armored frigate König Wilhelm and after war's end became commander of the North Sea naval station.
In 1872, he was promoted to flag rank as a Rear Admiral, and was ordered to Berlin as Director of the Admiralty, where he remained until July 1879. During this time he was promoted further (1877) to Vice Admiral, and the following year was raised to the hereditary peerage. He retired in 1879 and was given a pension.
Between 1890 and 1893, Henk served in the Reichstag
as a member of the German Conservative Party
, representing the electoral district of Ueckermünde
-Wollin. He died in Berlin.
Prussian Navy
Throughout the centuries, Prussia’s military consistently concentrated on its land power, and never sought a similar power at sea. Yet historically there were always Prussian naval forces , beginning in the days when "Prussia" meant only the Margraviate of Brandenburg.- The Navy of Electoral...
and later in the Imperial German Navy of the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
. He retired as a Vice-Admiral.
Henk was born in Anklam
Anklam
Anklam is a town in the Western Pomerania region of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is situated on the banks of the Peene river, just 8 km from its mouth in the Kleines Haff, the western part of the Stettin Lagoon. Anklam has a population of 14,603 and was the capital of the former...
, Province of Pomerania. He began his career in merchant ships, making journeys to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, the Mediterranean, and the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
. In 1844, he was promoted to Captain. After the establishment of the Prussian Navy
Prussian Navy
Throughout the centuries, Prussia’s military consistently concentrated on its land power, and never sought a similar power at sea. Yet historically there were always Prussian naval forces , beginning in the days when "Prussia" meant only the Margraviate of Brandenburg.- The Navy of Electoral...
in 1849, he entered as an auxiliary officer, becoming a Kapitänleutnant in 1855 and a Korvettenkapitän in 1859.
In 1861 he went to Berlin as the head of the Hydrographic Bureau in the Prussian War Ministry. In 1865, he became captain of the steam corvette Nymphe, which was sent to the Mediterranean.
During the Austro-Prussian War
Austro-Prussian War
The Austro-Prussian War was a war fought in 1866 between the German Confederation under the leadership of the Austrian Empire and its German allies on one side and the Kingdom of Prussia with its German allies and Italy on the...
of 1866, Henk was commander of the Prussian North Sea Fleet, and in 1867 was promoted to the rank of Post-Captain
Post-Captain
Post-captain is an obsolete alternative form of the rank of captain in the Royal Navy.The term served to distinguish those who were captains by rank from:...
[Kapitän zur See]. In the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
, he commanded the armored frigate König Wilhelm and after war's end became commander of the North Sea naval station.
In 1872, he was promoted to flag rank as a Rear Admiral, and was ordered to Berlin as Director of the Admiralty, where he remained until July 1879. During this time he was promoted further (1877) to Vice Admiral, and the following year was raised to the hereditary peerage. He retired in 1879 and was given a pension.
Between 1890 and 1893, Henk served in the Reichstag
Reichstag (German Empire)
The Reichstag was the parliament of the North German Confederation , and of the German Reich ....
as a member of the German Conservative Party
German Conservative Party
The German Conservative Party was a right-wing political party of the German Empire, founded in 1876.- Policies :It was generally seen as representing the interests of the German nobility, the East Elbian Junkers and the Evangelical Church of the Prussian Union, and had its political stronghold...
, representing the electoral district of Ueckermünde
Ueckermünde
Ueckermünde is a seaport town in northeast Germany, located in the district of Vorpommern-Greifswald, Western Pomerania, near Germany's border with Poland . Ueckermünde has a long and varied history, going back to its founding by Slavs, known as the Uchri and mentioned in 934 by Widukind of Corvey...
-Wollin. He died in Berlin.