Otto of Stolberg-Wernigerode

Otto zu Stolberg-Wernigerode
Vice-Chancellor of Germany
In office 1 June 1878 – 20 June 1881
Chancellor	Otto von Bismarck
Succeeded by	Karl Heinrich von Boetticher
Personal details
Born	30 October 1837(1837-10-30)
Died	19 November 1896(1896-11-19) (aged 59)
Political party	FKP
Spouse(s)	Anna Reuss of Köstritz
Occupation	Officer, diplomat, politician
Military service
Allegiance	Prussia, German Empire

Prince Otto of Stolberg-Wernigerode (30 October 1837, Gedern – 19 November 1896, Schloss Wernigerode) was an Imperial German politician and the first Vice-Chancellor of Germany. He was born into the ancient noble family of Stolberg-Wernigerode which had been quasi-sovereign rulers of their county until the German Mediatisation when they came under the jurisdiction of Prussia. Having been schooled in Duisburg, he read law at the University of Göttingen. Between 1859 and 1861, he served as a cavalry officer in the Prussian army, and he married Anna Reuss of Köstritz in 1863. Having served in both the Reichstag and the Prussian regional legislature, he was appointed Vice-Chancellor under Otto von Bismarck, and was instrumental in the development of the Zweibund with Austria. For most of his life he was known as Graf or Count Otto, but in 1890 he was granted the hereditary title of Prince (Fürst in German.)

Marriage and issue

On 22 August 1863 at Staniszów Castle, he married Anna Reuss of Köstritz. They had the following children:

• Christian Ernest (1864–1940), Prince of Stolberg-Wernigerode

married in 1891 Countess Marie of Castell-Rüdenhausen (1864-1942)

• Elizabeth (1866–1928)

married in 1885 Count Constantin of Stolberg-Wernigerode (1843-1905)

• Hermann (1867–1913)

married in 1910 princess Dorothea of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich (1883-1942)

• William (1870–1932)

married in 1910 Princess Elizabeth of Erbach-Schönberg (1883-1966)

• Henry (1871–1874)
• Marie (1872–1950)

married in 1902 Count William of Solms-Laubach (1861-1936)

• Emma (1875–1956)

married in 1894 Prince Charles of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich (1866-1920)

References

• Konrad Breitenborn: Graf Otto zu Stolberg-Wernigerode. Deutscher Standesherr und Politiker der Bismarckzeit. Ausgewählte Dokumente. Jüttners Buchhandlung, Wernigerode 1993, ISBN 3910157017
• Konrad Breitenborn (Hrsg.): Die Lebenserinnerungen des Fürsten Otto zu Stolberg-Wernigerode (1837–1896). Jüttners Buchhandlung, Wernigerode 1996, ISBN 3910157033

Otto of Stolberg-Wernigerode House of Stolberg Born: 30 October 1837 Died: 19 November 1896
Preceded by Henry	Count of Stolberg-Wernigerode 1854-1890	Succeeded by himself as Prince of Stolberg-Wernigerode
Preceded by himself as Count of Stolberg-Wernigerode	Prince of Stolberg-Wernigerode 1890-1896	Succeeded by Christian Ernest
Political offices
Preceded by Office created	Vice Chancellor of Germany 1878-1881	Succeeded by Karl Heinrich von Boetticher

Persondata
Name	Otto of Stolberg-Wernigerode
Alternative names	Fürst Otto zu Stolberg-Wernigerode (German)
Short description	Vice-Chancellor of Germany
Date of birth	30 October 1837
Place of birth	Gedern
Date of death	19 November 1896
Place of death	Schloss Wernigerode