Count Johann Friedrich von Struensee (Halle an der Saale, 5 August 1737 - Copenhagen, 28 April 1772) was a German doctor. He became royal physician to the schizophrenic King Christian VII of Denmark and a minister in the Danish government. He rose in power to a position of “de facto” regent of the country, where he tried to carry out widespread reforms. His affair with Queen Caroline Matilda (“Caroline Mathilde”) caused scandal, especially after ...
more
Count Johann Friedrich von Struensee (Halle an der Saale, 5 August 1737 - Copenhagen, 28 April 1772) was a German doctor. He became royal physician to the schizophrenic King Christian VII of Denmark and a minister in the Danish government. He rose in power to a position of “de facto” regent of the country, where he tried to carry out widespread reforms. His affair with Queen Caroline Matilda (“Caroline Mathilde”) caused scandal, especially after the birth of a daughter, Princess Louise Augusta, and was the catalyst for the intrigues and power play that caused his downfall and dramatic death. He died unmarried.
Baptized at Kirche St. Moritz on 7 August 1737, Struensee was the third child of six born to Pietist theologian and minister Adam Struensee (baptized in Neuruppin on 8 September 1708 - Rendsburg, 20 June 1791), Pfarrer ("curate") in Halle an der Saale in 1732, "Dr. theol. (h. c.) von Halle" ("Doctor of Theology from the University of Halle) in 1757, Pfarrer in Altona between...
less
