Gregers Christian Haxthausen

Gregers Christian Haxthausen (1 February 1733 – 10 July 1802) was a Danish government official. He was one of the few Danish noblemen whom Johan Peter Suhr entrusted with a number of important posts and tasks. After Struense's fall, he was initially removed from the central administration. After some ten years as county governor in the provinces, first in Flensburg and then in Sorø and Ringsted, he was promoted to diocesan governor of Zealand. In November 1790, he made a come-back to the central administration as geheimestatsminister.

Early life and education Haxthausen was born on 1 February 1733 in Copenhagen, the son of and Margrethe Hedevig Juel. The father was naturalized as a Danish count on 6 April 1736. Haxthausen's brother was lieutenant-general Clemens August Haxthausen. Karl Christian Gärtner was his hofmester from the age of six. He was later sent to school in Altona and Copenhagen before continuing his education at Sorø Academy and the university in Leipzig.

In 1758, he was appointed envoyé extraordinaire at the Polish and Saxon court. Shortly prior to his departure, in early 1759, he was awarded the title of chamberlain (kammerherre). In 1760, he was transferred to Saint Petersburg. He replaced Wilhelm August von der Osten, who had fallen out of favour with Prince Peter (Peter III). After Peter III's fall, Haxthausen was again replaced by Osten. In 1790, Haxthausen returned to the central administration. Back in 1784, Joachim Otto Schack-Rathlou had unsuccessfully tried to persuade the crown prince to make Haxthausen a member of the new Council of State. After Schack-Rathlou and Frederik Christian Rosenkrantz had resigned from the council in 1788, followed by Henrik Stampe's death one year later, the crown prince found it necessary to have the "Danish Party" represented in the government. On 27 November 1789, Haxthausen and Jørgen Erik Skeel were therefore appointed to the post of geheimestatsminister. In 1794, Haxthausen was also appointed as president of the Vestindisk-Guineisk Rente- og Generaltoldkammer. At the same time, he was appointed as one of the directors of the Postpensionskassen (Postal Pension Fund). Later in the same year, he was dismissed from all his posts.

He later owned the property Amaliegade 22 next to Amalienborg Palace from at least 1787 until his death. He inherited the estate Tienhausen and Hemsen in present-day Germany. His large book collection was sold at auction to the Royal Danish Library.

Awards In 1766, Haxthausen was created a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog. In the same year, he was awarded the Ordre de l'Union Parfaite. In 1774, he was awarded the title of gehejmekonferensråd. In 1783, he was created a Knight in the Order of the Elephant.