Theodor von Schön
Encyclopedia
Heinrich Theodor von Schön ( 20 January 1773 – 23 July 1856) was a Prussia
n statesman who assisted in the liberal reforms in Prussia
during the Napoleonic Wars
.
(now Šereitlaukis, Lithuania
). He studied law and political science at the University of Königsberg
. In 1793, he entered the Prussian government service and was rapidly promoted, serving as governor. After the Peace of Tilsit, he rendered assistance in carrying out the reforms of Baron vom Stein and Karl August von Hardenberg
, and to him is attributed the authorship of the Politisches Testament, which Stein issued upon his retirement from office. In addition, Schön's memorandum on the abolition of serfdom was the basis of the law of emancipation.
In 1816, Schön was appointed governor of West Prussia, and eight years afterwards of the whole Province of Prussia
. Under his administration many reforms were made. He was an ardent liberal, and it was partly through his efforts that upon the accession of the new King in 1840 a demand was made for a constitution
. Schön was made Minister of State, but his ideas were too advanced for Frederick William IV, and he found it expedient in 1842 to retire from political life.
Schön's memoirs and correspondence were published by his son under the title of Aus den Papieren des Ministers und Burggrafen von Marienburg Theodor von Schön (1875–83). The share claimed by him in Stein's reforms has been the subject of some controversy.
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...
n statesman who assisted in the liberal reforms in Prussia
Prussian reforms
The Prussian reforms were a series of constitutional, administrative, social and economic reforms of the kingdom of Prussia. They are sometimes known as the Stein-Hardenberg Reforms after Karl Freiherr vom Stein and Karl August Fürst von Hardenberg, their main instigators...
during the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
.
Biography
Schön was born in Schreitlauken, Tilsit district, East PrussiaEast Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
(now Šereitlaukis, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
). He studied law and political science at the University of Königsberg
University of Königsberg
The University of Königsberg was the university of Königsberg in East Prussia. It was founded in 1544 as second Protestant academy by Duke Albert of Prussia, and was commonly known as the Albertina....
. In 1793, he entered the Prussian government service and was rapidly promoted, serving as governor. After the Peace of Tilsit, he rendered assistance in carrying out the reforms of Baron vom Stein and Karl August von Hardenberg
Karl August von Hardenberg
Karl August Fürst von Hardenberg was a Prussian statesman and Prime Minister of Prussia. While during his late career he acquiesced to reactionary policies, earlier in his career he implemented a variety of Liberal reforms...
, and to him is attributed the authorship of the Politisches Testament, which Stein issued upon his retirement from office. In addition, Schön's memorandum on the abolition of serfdom was the basis of the law of emancipation.
In 1816, Schön was appointed governor of West Prussia, and eight years afterwards of the whole Province of Prussia
Province of Prussia
The Province of Prussia was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1829-1878 created out of the provinces of East Prussia and West Prussia....
. Under his administration many reforms were made. He was an ardent liberal, and it was partly through his efforts that upon the accession of the new King in 1840 a demand was made for a constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
. Schön was made Minister of State, but his ideas were too advanced for Frederick William IV, and he found it expedient in 1842 to retire from political life.
Schön's memoirs and correspondence were published by his son under the title of Aus den Papieren des Ministers und Burggrafen von Marienburg Theodor von Schön (1875–83). The share claimed by him in Stein's reforms has been the subject of some controversy.