Peter Frederik Steinmann

Peter Frederik Steinmann (8 July 1812 – 16 February 1894) was an officer in the Royal Danish Army who served in the First and Second Schleswig Wars and was briefly Minister of War.

Steinmann entered military service in 1823 at the age of 11. He rose through the ranks of the army during the First and Second Schleswig Wars, being granted the rank of major general and awarded the Grand Cross of the Dannebrog in 1864. He was Minister of War during the brief cabinet of Christen Andreas Fonnesbech from 1874 to 1875. He spent the later part of his career as the commanding general in Jutland, before retiring to his estate, Tybjerggaard, in 1882.

Early life and education Peter Frederik Steinmann was born on 8 July 1812 in Copenhagen to Lieutenant General and Johanne Birgitte Mette Dorothea de Neergaard. He entered military service in 1823 and in 1826, was made an artillery cadet. In 1830, he was promoted to second lieutenant in the artillery with seniority from 1826. He enrolled immediately in the recently established Royal Danish Defence College, from which he graduated 4 years later as a first lieutenant. However, he did not officially enter into military service until after going through training with the infantry and cavalry schools. In 1839 he became adjutant of the General Staff, and the following year he made a tour of duty to most European states, after which in 1841 was made a Captain.

On 11 August 1841, he married Anna Johanne Elisabeth Countess Schulin (30 October 1813 in Frederiksdal – 10 September 1847 in Copenhagen), daughter of Chamberlain, County Governor .

Steinmann he had previously accompanied Adjutant General Carl Ewald on a bathing trip to the south of France, which he also did in 1842.

First Schleswig War Due to poor health, he travelled to the hot springs in Bad Ems to recuperate in 1846, before returning for training in the autumn. After his wife died on 10 September 1847, he travelled to Italy during the winter. He later became Commander of the Dannebrog in 1857 and participated in several troop gatherings, as well as the 1858 exercises of the 10th Federal Corps. There he was given a difficult task, as the 1st Division was tasked with ensuring the Army's possible advance in the Danevirke, while also keeping the population in check and threatening a federal execution. Only 3 days before the German troops moved into Holstein on 23 December, he was given the necessary instructions for his position, stating that he should eventually evacuate the duchy, which was also completed on 29 December.