Karl Alten
Germany- Early Life and Military Service in Hanover
- Service in the British Army
- Napoleonic Wars
- Later Career and Death
Early Life and Military Service in Hanover
Albrecht Philipp von Estorff was born into a Hanoverian noble family and received his education at a military academy. He began his military career in 1781 as a lieutenant in the Hanoverian Guards Infantry. In 1790, he became the chief adjutant to Field Marshal von Reden and later to Field Marshal von Freitaga. From 1793 to 1795, Estorff fought in Flanders and Holland under the command of the Duke of Frederick of York.
Service in the British Army
After the Hanoverian army was defeated and capitulated in 1803, Estorff resigned his commission and went to England. He was granted the rank of colonel in the British army and appointed to command the Light Brigade of the Anglo-German Legion. Estorff participated in expeditions to the island of Rügen and Copenhagen. In 1808-1809, he led a brigade under General Sir John Moore in battles against the French in Spain and Portugal.
Napoleonic Wars
In 1810, Estorff was appointed to command the territorial command in Sussex County. In 1811, he was sent to the Iberian Peninsula with his Light Brigade to join General Wellington's forces. He fought in the battles of Badajoz and Albuera. In 1812, Wellington appointed Estorff to command the Light Division, which he led in the battles of Vittoria, Nivelle, Orthez, and Toulouse.
In 1814, Estorff was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed as commander of the Hanoverian troops in the Netherlands. In the 1815 campaign, he led the 3rd Infantry Division in Wellington's army. He distinguished himself in the Battle of Quatre-Bras.
At the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815, Estorff was severely wounded. Two of his brigades under Baron Ompteda and Count Kielmansegg were almost entirely destroyed by Marshal Ney's artillery. After the peace treaty was signed, Estorff commanded Hanoverian troops occupying France from 1815 to 1818.
Later Career and Death
In 1818, Estorff was appointed Minister of War for the Kingdom of Hanover and Inspector General of the Army. He later held the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs. After the accession of King Ernst August, Duke of Cumberland, Estorff retained only his role as Minister of War. He died on his way to Bozen in 1853.
