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Auction: 21002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 10

The interesting Waterloo Medal awarded to Ensign Frederick de Ronne, King's German Legion, who in later life became a noted Prussian jurist, politician, author and diplomat, Prussian Ambassador to the United States from 1834-44

de Ronne was held in such high regard that he was asked by the American Government to act as mediator during negotiations in its dispute with Mexico in 1839

Waterloo 1815 (Ensign. Fred. De Ronne, 3rd Line Batt. K.G.L.), replacement clip and ring suspension, worn overall, fine

Friedrich Ludwig von Rönne, was born in 1798 at Seestermühe, Holstein, Germany, the third son of Johann Georg von Rönne. He was educated at Glückstadt, and later received private tuition in Berlin under the tutelage of politician and legal professor Charles Twesten.

Young de Rönne joined the King's German Legion as a Gentleman Ensign on 21 March 1814, vice Dehnel, under whom he would serve in the 3rd Line Battalion in the Netherlands and during the Battle of Waterloo. The 3rd Line Battalion formed part of Colonel du Plat's 1st German Brigade, itself part of the 2nd British Infantry Division under Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton. The 3rd Line Battalion were initially held in support behind the crucially-important Hougoumont Farm, but were later brought in to assist the Guards, Hanoverian and Nassauer troops at 1600hrs in the face of repeated French attacks. Du Plat's Brigade fought off several French cavalry attacks, with the 1st, 3rd and 4th Line Regiments forming square to the left of the farm to resist a particularly strong cavalry charge. Colonel Du Plat himself was mortally wounded, and the young Ensign de Ronne would have made a conspicuous target holding the battalion's colours.

Returning to civilian life, he studied law at Kiel and Berlin, joining the Prussian judicial service in 1820, and being made High Court Judge in Hamm in 1825. He joined the Civil Service in 1831, initially working in Potsdam, before being sent to Washington in 1834 as Minister Resident (Ambassador) of Prussia in the United States of America. Over the next ten years he worked tirelessly in support of German Immigrants to the States, making firm and repeated attempts to establish formal commercial contracts between the German Customs Union and United States. Where these unfortunately faltered, he did succeed in extending the trade agreements between the United States and both Hamburg and Bremen. He latterly acted as mediator during the American dispute with Mexico.

Appointed Head of the Department of Commerce in 1844, in 1848 he was elected to the Frankfurt National Assembly, before being Envoy of the Archduke Johann of Austria in 1849. He retired in 1858, pursuing his career as a Liberal politician, and died in 1865 in Berlin.

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Sold for
£1,300

Starting price
£1000

Sale 21002 Notices
Note naming also very worn.