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Bernhard Alexander Heinrich
von Kessel
(20.11.1817 - 07.06.1882)
place of birth: Breslau
Königreich
Preußen: Div-Kdr, Generaladjutant SM, General der
Infanterie
General Bernhard von Kessel was a Prussian division-level commander and
adjutant general for Kaiser Wilhelm I. He was commissioned in 1835 as a
Sekonde-Lieutenant with 1. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß in Potsdam. In May of 1863, von
Kessel was assigned command of the regiment and lead his troops into armed
conflict during the
Austro-Prussian War of 1866 (Deutscher Krieg). The regiment was
engaged in numerous decisive battles, including at Soor and
Königgrätz, and von Kessel was recognized for his leadership with the
Pour le Mérite. As regimental commander, he was additionally tasked in
December 1866 with duties as aide-de-camp to King Wilhelm I.
With an assignment as 1. Garde-Infanterie-Brigade commander, he
was promoted in March of 1868 to Generalmajor and General à la suite to
the King. During the
Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 (Deutsch-Französischer Krieg), Generalmajor
von Kessel commanded his brigade in several engagements, including at
Beaumont and Sedan, as well as the Siege of Paris.
Following the peace treaty, he was promoted to General-Lieutenant on 22 March
1872 and transferred to Frankfurt an der Oder, where he was in command of 5.
Division headquarters until May of 1879. Kaiser Wilhelm I. elevated him to
Generaladjutant on 10 September 1874. Von Kessel succeeded General von Loën
as Präses der General-Ordens-Kommission (President of the Commission of Military Orders),
continuing with this assignment from 1879 to 1882.
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