Friedrich von Spörcken

August Friedrich von Spörcken (1698–1776) was a Hanoverian soldier best known for his service in the Seven Years' War. He served as part of the Army of Observation between 1757-1762 leading the Hanoverian contingent at a number of major battles including Krefeld and Minden.

Spörcken was born on 28 August 1698. In 1715 he joined the Hanoverian army, he served as part of a volunteer force during the War of the Polish Succession. He later went on to serve as part of the Pragmatic Army during the War of the Austrian Succession.

When the Seven Years' War broke out Spörcken was part of the Army of Observation established to defend Hanover and its neighbours from the French. Following the Battle of Hastenbeck the Army retreated and was eventually forced to conclude the Convention of Klosterzeven taking Hanover out of the war. This soon came under fierce attack in Britain and Prussia, with Frederick II of Prussia suggesting that the army should be reformed under the control of Spörcken.

Instead, when the Convention was revoked in late 1757, Ferdinand of Brunswick was given command of the force which launched a successful counter-attack driving the French back across the River Rhine. For the next five years Spörcken was part of the army that successfully checked several French attempts against Hanover.

In 1759 following the defeat at the Battle of Bergen, Brunswick's forces retreated northwards as the French under Contades pushed home a plan to invade Hanover. Deciding to halt them near the town of Minden, Brunswick

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