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István Széchenyi

István Széchenyi
SzechenyiIstvan1.jpg
Minister of Public Works and Transport
In office
23 March 1848 – 4 September 1848
Preceded by office created
Succeeded by László Csány
Personal details
Born (1791-09-21)21 September 1791
Vienna, Archduchy of Austria
Died 8 April 1860(1860-04-08) (aged 68)
Döbling, Austrian Empire
Spouse(s) Crescence Seilern
Children Béla
Ödön
Júlia
Profession Politician
Religion Roman Catholic

Count István Széchenyi de Sárvár-Felsővidék (Hungarian: [ˈiʃtvaːn ˈseːtʃeːɲi]; 21 September 1791 – 8 April 1860) was a Hungarian politician, theorist and writer, one of the greatest statesmen of Hungarian history, honored with the epithet "the Greatest Hungarian".

Széchenyi was born in Vienna to Count Ferenc Széchényi and Countess Juliána Festetics de Tolna; he was the youngest of their two daughters and three sons. The Széchenyis were an old and influential noble family of Hungary. Traditionally loyal to the House of Habsburg, they were linked with noble families, such as the Liechtenstein, the House of Esterházy and the House of Lobkowicz. István Széchenyi's father was an enlightened aristocrat who founded the Hungarian National Museum. The boy spent his childhood both in Vienna and on the family estate of Nagycenk, Hungary. After his private education, the young Széchenyi joined the Austrian army and participated in the Napoleonic Wars. He was seventeen years old when he entered the army. He fought with distinction at the battle of Raab (14 June 1809) and on 19 July brought about the subsequent junction of the two Austrian armies by conveying a message across the Danube to General Chasteler at the risk of his life. Equally memorable was his famous ride, through the enemy's lines on the night of 16–17 October 1813, to convey to Blücher and Bernadotte the wishes of the two emperors that they should participate in the battle of Leipzig on the following day, at a given time and place. In May 1815 he was transferred to Italy, and at the battle of Tolentino scattered Murat's bodyguard by a dashing cavalry charge.


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