The Stone Baron

Freiherr von und zum Stein

The Baron vom Stein, often referred to as a Prussian reformer, was born on October 25, 1757 in Nassau/Lahn. Consequently he was not a Prussian, but rather a German statesman. He came from noble blood and had many Knights among his ancestors. The Baron vom Stein studied Law in Göttingen and entered into the Prussian Mine Administration in 1780. He rose in the ranks of the Prussian government until he became the President of all Chambers of the Western Provinces in 1796. In 1803 he also became President of Münster und Hamm. The Baron vom Stein then became the Minister of Business and Finances in 1804. Because he refused to collaborate with the Royal Cabinet, however, the Baron vom Stein was dismissed from his post on January 1st, 1807. In June of 1807, the Baron described his experiences working in the government in the "Nassauer Memorandum". This memorandum referred to the authoritarianism of the government as the cause of its own breakdown, and called for the active cooperation of the populations of all states in achieving autonomy. After the peace of Tisit occurred, vom Stein was appointed as one of the leading Ministers of the Prussian Government. He implemented many fundamental reforms.

Among others:
Military Reforms
Administrative Reforms
Educational Reforms
Social Reforms

Coincidentally the French then produced a stone-hard edict which prevented the Baron's further reform laws, like autonomy of the land municipalities, from being executed. As a result, vom Stein requested that he be dismissed from his post, a wish which was then granted to him on November 24, 1808. Condemned as an outlaw by Napoleon, the Baron vom Stein then lived in Bruenn, Troppa and Prague. Emperor Alexander I appointed him in 1812 as an advisor to Brussels. After Napoleon lost the Russian expedition, vom Stein persuaded the Russian emperor to continue the battle on the far side of the Russian boundary. On behalf of the Russian Emperor, the Baron then went in 1813 to Königsberg with General Yorck, in order to call for the uprising of the East Prussian states. Subsequently he went to the Prussian king and initiated the Prussian-Russian alliance. The Baron guided the provisional administration of those areas exempted from French rule in 1813/14. By negotiations of the Viennese congress, he was involved only as an advisor to the Russian emperor. Vom Stein then fought actively against the restoration of previous political conditions and attempted to establish an idealized German Federal State. Around 1819 he energized the establishment of the "Gesetze für Deutschlands ältere Geschichtskunde", a law for the archiving of German history, which resulted in the collection of the Monumenta Germaniae Historica. In 1818 Stone acquired the former abbey Cappenberg in Westphalia, where he lived withdrawn from public life. Vom Stein died in June 29, 1831 in Cappenberg (Westphalia). In 1952 the "Freiherr- vom- Stein-Gesellschaft" was created in Cappenberg.

Biographical Summary
25.10.1757 Heinrich Friedrich Karl vom Stein is born in Nassau as the ninth child of Baron Karl Philipp vom und zum Stein and his wife Henrietta Karolina.
1773 The Baron, accompanied by Hofmeister Friedrich Rudolf Salzmann, moves to Göttingen. He begins his study of Law and Political Science.
1777 Baron Stein in Wetzlar. Internship at the Court of Appeals. He travels to the court of the Kurfürsten von Mainz.
1780 Baron Stone returns to Berlin. He obtains employment in the government's Department of Mining.
1780-1808 Employment as a Civil Servant in the service of the Prussian King.
1782 Promoted to Chief Mining Advisor. Studies at the Bergakademie Freiberg/Sachsen.
1783 His mother Henrietta vom Stein dies. Marriage plans with Fräulein von Weyhern are disrupted.
1784 The Baron is named as Director of the Westphalian Mountain and Mining Commission.
1785 The Baron vom Stein succeeds in joining Kurmainz to the Royal Federation.
1786 Stein named as member of the secret Upper Mountain Advisory. Studies mining in England.
1787 The Baron is under suspicion of espionage in England. Retreats to Germany. Appointment to the director of the Chamber of Kleve.
1787 The death of the Baron's father, Karl Philipp vom und zum Stein.
1792 Ongoing consultations between the Baron and his brother Johann Friedrich, the Prussian envoy in Mainz. They call for all the nobility to join together in resistance. The Baron Vom Stein courts Wilhelmine Friderike, the Countess from Wallmoden-Gimborn.
1793 Stone named as President of the Märkischen Chamber of War in Hamm. He engages and then marries the Countess Wilhelmine von Wallmoden-Gimborn. Named as President of the Klevischen Chamber.
1796 Daughter Henriette Luise born.
1801 Birth of the Baron's second daughter. She dies the following year.
1802 The Baron is named as head of the Special-Organizations Commission for Spiritual Matters; is appointed as Blüchers' Civil Administrator.
1803 Theres Marianne Magdalene, the Baron's third daughter, is born. The Baron Stein becomes Head President of Chamber of Münster.
1804 Stone named to secret post as War Minister.
1805 Acting on Stone's advice, the King of Prussia releases his War Manifesto
1806 The Baron publishes his first meaningful memorandum: "A Portrait of the Defective Organization of the Cabinet and the Necessity for the Formation of Ministerial Conferences". He proposes reforms for the highest offices of The National Conference from Osterode. Stone rejects the demands of Napoleon.
1807 Stein is fired from his post as Minister for being outspoken and strong-willed. "The Nassau Memoir" - On the Proper Formation of the Central and Provincial, Departments of Finance and Police by the Prussian Monarchy. Stone calls for the participation of citizens in the affairs of the State. He composes his Last Will and Testament. In Berlin Appointed to President of the Court of Chambers in Berlin. The Baron is appointed as Governing Minister. "Edict on the Easier Ownership and Free Use of Private Dwellings Concerning Rural Citizens". First reform laws toward the liberation of farmers.
1808 The Baron in Berlin. Difficult negotiations with the French General Director over war contributions. Negotiations end with a compromise that remains unconfirmed by Napoleon. Vom Stein proposes in a letter to Baron Wittgenstein the possibility of a popular revolt against Napoleon. This letter is, however, siezed by the French. The Czar leaves Königsberg. Vom Stein requests dismissal from his post because of the stolen letter and this request is granted. He returns to his family in Berlin.
1809 The Baron leaves Berlin for three years. The Stein family travels to Austria under the pseudonym Voigt and remains there for a time in exile. They travel from there to Prague.
1810 The Baron and Hardenberg meet in Hermsdorf.
1811 The Baron and his family move into Troja Castle.
1812 On the invitation of Czar Alexander I, The Baron travels to Russia. A post for him is planned for him there as Advisor on German Affairs and Head of Propaganda for the German Committee.
1813 The Baron leaves Petersburg returns to Germany. He becomes ill in Breslau, then travels to Prague where he is appointed President of The Council for the Administration of Prussian and Russian-Owned German Territories. He develops a plan for the restoration of the empire.
1814 Stein and Hardenberg formulate the "Design for the Basis of the German Federal Constitution" in 41 articles.
1815 The Baron with Goethe in Cologne. Then he travels to Paris in preparation for the Second Parisian Peach Talks. Stein obtains ownership of Birnbaum bei Posen. He is awarded the Decoration of the Schwarzen-Adler.
1816 Baron vom Stein protests against the disruption of pledges to accept the Nassau Constitution.
1817The Baron suffers ill health in Schwarzen Star
1818 Stein moves from Gut Birnbaum to Cappenberg in Westfalen.
1819 Stone creates the German History Society, the &quo;Gesellschaft für ältere deutsche Geschichtskunde", in Frankfurt. Appointed President of Central Direction, Georg Heinrich Pertz scientific publisher. His wife Frau Wilhelmine dies.
1820 The Baron travels with his daughters to Geneva.
1821 The Baron in Rome. He creates a "Compendium of German Penmanship Throughout History in the Vatican Library".
1825 Henriette vom Stein marries Hermann, Earl of Giech, in Nassau.
1826 The Baron is appointed Marshal of the Westphalian Regional Parliament.
1827 Therese vom Stein marries Earl Ludwig von Kielmannsegg, a distant relative.
1830 Birth of the Baron's grandson Louis.
1831 The Baron vom Stein dies in Cappenberg. Burial in Nassau.


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