Friedrich Ferdinand Alexander zu Dohna-Schlobitten

Friedrich Ferdinand Alexander zu Dohna-Schlobitten (29 March 1771 – 31 March 1831) was a Prussian politician.

Dohna-Schlobitten was born at Finckenstein (today Kamieniec, Poland) to Friedrich Alexander Burggraf und Graf zu Dohna-Schlobitten (1741–1810) and Caroline née Finck von Finckenstein (1746–1825). He studied cameralistics at the Universities of Frankfurt (Oder) and Göttingen. In Hamburg, where he visited a commercial college, Dohna became a friend of Alexander von Humboldt. In 1790 he joined the Royal Prussian War and Domain Chamber (Kriegs- und Domänenkammer) in Berlin and was promoted to the Director of the regional chamber in Marienwerder in 1801. After the Prussian defeat at Jena and Auerstedt in 1806 Dohna did not pay homage to Napoleon but just assured the local authorities wouldn't act against the French troops. Dohna was voluntarily detained as a hostage to secure his pledge.

In April 1807 Dohna negotiated with Napoleon at the Palace of Finckenstein on a French-Prussian separate peace and achieved a waiver of contribution payments of the province of West Prussia.

On 4 August 1807 Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia appointed Dohna to the President of the Royal War and Domain Chamber. On proposal of Heinrich Friedrich Karl vom Stein Dohna became his successor as Prussian minister of Interior after Stein was forced to leave his office on French pressure in 1808. As such Dohna supported the foundation of the University of Berlin by Wilhelm von Humboldt.

...
Wikipedia