Jakob von Washington

Baron Jacobus von Washington (26 January 1778 – 5 April 1848) was a lieutenant general in the Bavarian Army and a distant relative of US President George Washington. Born in The Hague, Netherlands, he was christened James Washington. Most of his adult life was shaped by his participation in wars for and against Napoleonic France and his service to Ludwig I of Bavaria.

Origins The known history of the Washington family goes back to the 12th century. Sir Robert Washington (d. 1324) was the progenitor of the branch of the family residing in Sulgrave Manor, England. One of his descendants, John Washington, emigrated to Virginia in 1656 and was the great-grandfather of George Washington. The brother of Sir Robert, Sir John Washington (died 1331), founded the Hallhead Hall/Adwick-le-street branch of the Washingtons. His descendant, James Washington, accompanied John Washington to Virginia, but returned to England, then shortly thereafter emigrated to Rotterdam, the Netherlands. There he married a Dutchwoman named Clara van der Lauen, leading, five generations later, to Jacobus Washington. He came to the attention of Crown Prince Ludwig, who made Jakob his adjutant. In July 1807 Jakob was present at the negotiations for the Treaties of Tilsit following the victory of the French Empire (of which Bavaria was now an ally) over Russia. Over the next few years he advanced to the rank of colonel.

In October 1813, Bavaria switched sides and joined the Allies against France. On 7 June 1815 in Brussels, Jakob Washington signed a treaty with the Duke of Wellington representing Bavaria. On the night of 15 June 1815, prior to the Battle of Quatre Bras, Washington was an invited guest at the now famous Duchess of Richmond's ball. Ludwig also appointed him Grand Chamberlain and Marshal of his military household. Both sons died without issue, and since none of Jakob's other children had any offspring, the von Washington line became extinct.