Leonhard von Blumenthal

Leonhardt von Blumenthal
Field-Marshal Count Leonhardt von Blumenthal, wearing his Pour-le-Mérite
Born	(1810-07-30)30 July 1810 Schwedt, Brandenburg
Died	21 December 1900(1900-12-21) (aged 90) Quellendorf
Allegiance	Prussia Imperial Germany
Service/branch	Prussian Army
Years of service	1827–1896
Rank	generalfeldmarschall
Unit	14th Infantry Division
Commands held	IV Corps
Battles/wars	First Schleswig War Second Schleswig War Austro-Prussian War Franco-Prussian War
Awards	Pour le Mérite with Oakleaves

Count Karl Konstantin Albrecht Leonhard (Leonhardt) Graf von Blumenthal (30 July 1810 – 21 December 1900) was a Prussian Field Marshal, chiefly remembered for his decisive intervention at the Battle of Königgrätz in 1866, his victories at Wörth and Weissenburg, and above all his refusal to bombard Paris in 1870 during the siege, which he directed.

Von Blumenthal was born in Schwedt, Brandenburg on 30 July 1810, the son of Captain Ludwig von Blumenthal, who was killed in 1813 at the Battle of Dennewitz.

Brought up on his grandfather's estate at Reddenthin, where his uncle Gustav von Below was founding what would become the Pentecostal movement, von Blumenthal was educated at the military schools of Culm and Berlin. He entered the Guards as 2nd lieutenant in 1827. He studied at the Berlin General War School (later called the Prussian Military Academy). After serving in the Rhine Province, he joined the topographical division of the general staff in 1846. As lieutenant of the 31st foot, he took part in 1848 in the suppression of the Berlin riots, and in 1849 was promoted captain on the general staff. The same year he served on the staff of General Eduard von Bonin in the First Schleswig War, and so distinguished himself, particularly at Fredericia, that he was appointed chief of the staff of the Schleswig-Holstein army, when the previous chief of staff, Captain von Delius, was killed.