Gentz, FRIEDRICH VON

Gentz, FRIEDRICH VON, politician and writer, was born at Breslau, 2d May 1764, and, shortly after entering the Prussian civil service, published his first work, a translation of Burke's Essay on the French Revolution (1793). In 1786 he entered the public service of Prussia, but in 1802 exchanged into that of Austria, having a short time previously paid a visit to England, where he became acquainted with Mackintosh, Grenville, Pitt, and other public men. Throughout the struggle against Napoleon he distinguished himself by writings full of burning hatred to the French emperor. At the Congress of Vienna in 1814 Gentz was appointed first secretary, and he held the same post in nearly all the subsequent conferences down to that of Verona (1822). From 1810 onwards he laboured as an adherent of Metternich. His writings, which are of a miscellaneous character, are distinguished for the elegance and correctness of their style. But his pen was always on sale to the highest bidder; and he drew the supplies by which he met his lavish private expenditure from more than one government outside Austria. He died 9th June 1832. See his Life by K. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1867).