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Johann
David Ludwig Graf Yorck von Wartenburg
(26.09.1759 - 04.10.1830)
place of birth: Potsdam, Brandenburg
Königreich
Preußen: Generalfeldmarschall
Prussian count and Generalfeldmarschall Ludwig von Wartenburg was
born of English ancestry; he joined the Dutch Army after being kicked
out of the Prussian Army in 1779 for insubordination. After seeing
action in the East Indies as a captain, he returned to Prussia in 1785
and was restored to active service in the army. He was one of the first to
stress skirmish tactics. In command of an infantry brigade, he fought
at Jena in 1806. Was badly wounded and captured at Lübeck, later repatriated
after the Peace of Tilsit.
Graf Yorck was appointed Inspector General of
Light Infantry in 1810 and played a major role in the reorganization of
the army. As a Prussian corps commander in le Grande Army's 1812 invasion
of Russia, he was stopped at Riga and was later
persuaded by Clausewitz to quit Napoleon and negotiate the Convention
of Tauroggen; this was a bold decision which conferred
neutral status to the Prussian Army and was crucial to Prussia's
regaining its independence. During the 1813 German campaign, he led
troops at Bautzen, Katzbach, Wartenburg
and Leipzig. Also in 1813, Yorck was decorated with Prussia's highest
order of chivalry, the Schwarzer Adler-Orden (Order of the Black
Eagle.) After fighting in France (1814) at Montmirail
and Laon, he was promoted to Generalfeldmarschall in 1821
and retired from active service.
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