Life
He was born at Gedern Castle, Grand Duchy of Hesse, Hesse, the third and last child of Count Hermann zu Stolberg-Wernigerode (1802–1841, himself a son of Henry of Stolberg-Wernigerode) and his wife Countess Emma zu Erbach-Fürstenau (great-granddaughter of George Albert III, Count of Erbach-Fürstenau). The ancient noble House of Stolberg had been quasi-sovereign rulers of their County of Stolberg-Wernigerode until the German Mediatisation, when they came under the jurisdiction of Kingdom of Prussia, Prussia in 1815. His elder brother Albert (Albrecht) died, when he was four years old, his father died shortly afterwards from grief over the loss. Having been schooled in Duisburg, he read law and administration science at the universities of University of Göttingen, Göttingen and University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg. Between 1859 and 1861, he served as a cavalry Officer (armed forces), officer in the Gardes du Corps (Prussia), Gardes du Corps regiment of the Prussian Army. Stolberg had his Wernigerode Castle residence rebuilt in a lavish ''Gründerzeit'' style. In 1867 he was appointed First President (''Oberpräsident'') of the Prussian Province of Hanover at the instigation of Minister-president Otto von Bismarck. Stolberg endeavoured to integrate the annexed province into the Prussian state. Having served in the Reichstag (North German Confederation), North German Reichstag from 1867 to 1871, he became a member of the Free Conservative Party and thereafter had a seat in both the Reichstag (German Empire), German Reichstag and the Prussian House of Lords (as its president from 1872). In March 1876 he became German ambassador in Austria-Hungary, again on Bismarck's proposal. In 1878, he was appointed German Vice-Chancellor under Chancellor Bismarck. Stolberg was instrumental in the development of the Dual Alliance (1879), Dual Alliance with Austria which was concluded in Autumn 1879. He also supported Bismarck's Anti-Socialist Laws, however, over time had more and more differences with the Chancellor and finally resigned from office in 1881. Stolberg remained an active politician, serving as Prussian treasurer and Minister of the Royal House. In 1890 he was granted the hereditary title of Prince (''Fürst'' in German) by Emperor Wilhelm II, German Emperor, Wilhelm II. Stolberg died at Wernigerode Castle, aged 59.Marriage and issue
On 22 August 1863 at Staniszów Castle, he married Anna Reuss of Köstritz (1837–1907). They had the following children: * Christian Ernest (1864–1940), Prince of Stolberg-Wernigerode : married in 1891 Countess Marie of Castell-Rüdenhausen (1864-1942) * Elizabeth (1866–1928) : married in 1885 Count Constantin of Stolberg-Wernigerode (1843-1905) * Hermann (1867–1913) : married in 1910 princess Dorothea of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich (1883-1942), daughter of Hermann of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich * William (1870–1932) : married in 1910 Princess Elizabeth of Erbach-Schönberg (1883-1966) * Henry (1871–1874) * Marie (1872–1950) : married in 1902 Count William of Solms-Laubach (1861-1936) * Emma (1875–1956) : married in 1894 Prince Charles of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich (1866-1920)Honours and awards
References
* Konrad Breitenborn: ''Graf Otto zu Stolberg-Wernigerode. Deutscher Standesherr und Politiker der Bismarckzeit. Ausgewählte Dokumente''. Jüttners Buchhandlung, Wernigerode 1993, * Konrad Breitenborn (Hrsg.): ''Die Lebenserinnerungen des Fürsten Otto zu Stolberg-Wernigerode (1837–1896)''. Jüttners Buchhandlung, Wernigerode 1996, {{DEFAULTSORT:Stolberg-Wernigerode, Otto 1837 births 1896 deaths People from Gedern People from the Grand Duchy of Hesse House of Stolberg, Otto Counts of Stolberg-Wernigerode, Otto German Protestants Free Conservative Party politicians Vice-Chancellors of Germany Members of the 1st Reichstag of the German Empire Members of the 2nd Reichstag of the German Empire Members of the 3rd Reichstag of the German Empire Members of the Prussian House of Lords Members of the First Chamber of the Estates of the Grand Duchy of Hesse Ambassadors of Germany to Austria Recipients of the Iron Cross (1870), 2nd class Grand Crosses of the Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary Recipients of the Order of the Netherlands Lion Grand Crosses of the Order of the Star of Romania