Johann Jakob von Wunsch
| Johann Jakob von Wunsch | |
|---|---|
Engraving of Wunsch
|
|
| Born |
22 December 1717 Heidenheim, Württemberg |
| Died | 18 October 1788 (aged 70) Prenzlau, Kingdom of Prussia |
| Allegiance |
 Kingdom of Prussia
|
| Service/branch | Prussian Army |
| Years of service | 1735–1788 |
| Rank | General of Infantry |
| Battles/wars |
Ottoman–Habsburg wars War of the Austrian Succession Seven Years' War War of the Bavarian Succession |
| Awards |
Pour le Mérite Order of the Black Eagle Name inscribed on Frederick the Great's Equestrian Statue |
Johann Jakob von Wunsch (1717–1788) was soldier of fortune and Prussian general of infantry, and a particularly adept commander of light infantry. The son of a Württemberg furrier, he served in several armies in the course of his lengthy career.
Shortly after he turned 18, his father enrolled him in Württemberg service. In the Württemberg Regiment, he supported the Austrians against the Ottoman Empire in 1737. Later, he served in Bavarian army during the War of the Austrian Succession. In 1748 he came to the notice of Prince Henry, and enter Prussian service for the Seven Years' War, where he led an autonomous corps in many raids and skirmishes that wrought havoc on the Austrian forces. His incursion over Prussia's border with Bohemia in 1778 was the opening action of the War of the Bavarian Succession.
In peace time, he devoted his efforts to training light infantry, developing an autonomous corps of skirmishers. Frederick the Great's successor, Frederick Wilhem II, promoted him to general of infantry and raised him to the Prussian nobility.
Wunsch was born on 22 December 1717 in Heidenheim, Württemberg to a furrier and died at Prenzlau, in the Kingdom of Prussia on 18 October 1788. His grandfather served in the Austrian military, and his father had served for a few years in the Bavarian military. He received schooling locally, and on his eighteenth year, his father sent him to Officer Cadet training in the Duke of Württemberg's Regiment. While with this regiment in Vienna, he married Josephine le Roi, the daughter of a Habsburg War Commissary. They had one son.
...
Wikipedia