Johann Dietrich von Hülsen
| Johann Dietrich von Hülsen | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1 June 1693 Babaziens |
| Died | 29 May 1767 (aged 73) Berlin |
| Allegiance |
 Prussia
|
| Service/branch | Army; Infantry |
| Years of service | 1715–1767 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Pour le Mérite Order of the Black Eagle Equestrian statue of Frederick the Great |
Johann Dietrich von Hülsen (1 June 1693–29 May 1767) was a Prussian lieutenant general of the infantry. After a lifelong officer's career in various infantry regiments, he acquired the special respect of Frederick II in the Seven Years' War as general, and was honored by him with the appointment as governor of Berlin. During the war, he became a canon to Minden and was awarded the Black Eagle Order and the Order Pour le Mérite. His name appears on the top tier of the Equestrian statue of Frederick the Great.
Hülsen was a son of Johann Friedrich von Hülsen and Rosine Baroness von Königsegg and grew up in the rural surroundings of Rastenburg. He was born on 1 June 1693 in Babaziens. In Fall 1739, he married the twice-widowed Sophie Elisabeth von Kunheim. Their marriage was childless.
Hülsen's military career modeled that of other Junker sons. Many of the Junkers owned immense estates, especially in the north-eastern half of Germany (i.e., the Prussian provinces of Brandenburg, Pomerania, Silesia, West Prussia, East Prussia and Posen). Their younger sons followed careers as soldiers (Fahnenjunker); consequently, the Junkers controlled the Prussian Army.
At the age of seventeen, Hülsen entered the Prussian Infantry Regiment No. 2 under the command of Lieutenant General Otto Magnus von Doenhoff, became a Fahnrich (cadet) on 8 June 1715, and took part in the Pomerania campaign of the Great Northern War in the same year. In 1721, the regiment was stationed between Insterburg and Rastenburg. Hülsen was promoted to second lieutenant on 1 August 1722, and on 13 July 1728, to first lieutenant. His length of time as a lieutenant, 15 years, were a consequence of his lack of education and polish. Throughout his career, his manners remained rough and his profanity was legendary.
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