Friedrich Albrecht zu Eulenburg

Count Friedrich Albrecht zu Eulenburg (born June 29, 1815 in Königsberg; died June 2, 1881 in Berlin-Schöneberg) was the Prussian diplomat who led the Eulenburg Expedition. He secured the Prusso-Japanese Treaty of 24 January 1861, which was similar to other unequal treaties that European powers held Eastern Countries to. [ [http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0415342481&id=IijlCfMFUW8C&pg=RA3-PA119&lpg=RA3-PA119&ots=0UTfaATTMf&dq=Japanese-german+Relations,[phone]&sig=7bUdkWBymn-HiJogPvXoOslcZRk#PRA3-PA1,M1 "Japanese-German Relations, 1895-1945: war, diplomacy and public opinion"] By Christian W. Spang, Rolf-Harald. Wippich, p. 1 ]

He was the first surviving child of Friedrich Leopold Graf zu Eulenburg (Prassen, 26 December 1787 - Königsberg, 30 July 1845), married at Königsberg, 23 October 1811 Amalie Julie Eleonore von Kleist (Perkuiken, 26 May 1792 - Königsberg, 16 November 1830). His brothers and sisters were Adalbert Graf zu Eulenburg (10 November 1812 - 17 June 1814), Marie Gräfin zu Eulenburg (13 October 1813 - 10 February 1818), Eliese Gräfin zu Eulenburg (Königsberg, 27 August 1817 - Berlin, 15 June 1853), who died unmarried and without issue, and Philipp Graf zu Eulenburg (Königsberg, 24 April 1820 - Berlin, 5 March 1889), married in Berlin, 22 April 1846 Alexandrine Freiin von Rothkirch und Panthen (Glogau, 20 June 1824 - Meran (Merano), 11 April 1902), who had issue.

Eulenberg first worked as a government official in Oppeln then in various ministries in Berlin. In 1852 he entered the diplomatic service, with his first posting being that of Consul-General in Antwerp. When the expansion of Prussian trade led to the search of commercial partners in South-East and Eastern Asia he was chosen to lead an extensive trade mission. Departing in October 1859 he set out for Japan, China and Siam.

In January 1861, he concluded a commercial treaty with the Bakufu, which was based on Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Amity and Commerce. In September the same year, he concluded a commercial treaty with the Qing Empire, which was similar to the Treaties of Tianjin that Britain and France had concluded with China three years earlier.

Following his return the he was appointed the Interior Minister of Prussia on 8 December, 1862. Following the growth in the administrative area of Prussian state in 1864 and 1866, Eulenberg unstituted comprehensive administrative reform also in the old provinces. However he was met by opposition by the Catholics in the west and the liberals in the east. Following fruitless negotiations and the intervention of Otto von Bismarck he resigned on 30 November 1878 to be succeeded by his first cousin once removed Botho zu Eulenburg. He died unmarried and childless. His nephew was Prince Philip of Eulenburg.

References

###@@@KEY@@@###succession box
title = Interior Minister of Prussia
before = Count Gustav Wilhelm von Jagow
after = Count Botho zu Eulenburg
years = 1862ndash 1878