Robert Heinrich Ludwig von der Goltz

Robert Heinrich Ludwig, Graf von der Goltz (6 June 1817 – 24 June 1869) was a German diplomat and politician in Prussia.

Early life Goltz was born on 6 June 1817 in Paris into the prominent Prussian noble von der Goltz family. Robert was a son of Karl Heinrich von der Goltz, the Prussian Lt.-Gen. and Prussian Ambassador in Paris during the Bourbon Restoration in France and Baroness Julie von Seckendorff, a lady-in-waiting to Princess Maria Anna of Hesse-Homburg. He also joined the moderate-liberal party during the reaction period and was appointed as a secretary to the Federal Central Commission in Frankfurt am Main. In 1852 he was elected to the Prussian House of Representatives for the Düsseldorf's 3rd constituency while acting in the opposition. serving until 1862 when he was succeeded by Joseph Maria Anton Brassier de Saint-Simon-Vallade.

Ambassador to Russia In 1862 he became Otto von Bismarck's successor (and rival) in Saint Petersburg, staying for one year before again succeeding Bismarck in 1863 in Paris, While in Russia, he was said to have maintained good relations with the liberal Viceroy of the Kingdom of Poland, the Grand Duke Constantine (the second son of Nicholas I and his wife, Charlotte of Prussia). first as the Ambassador of Prussia and then, from January 1868, of the North German Confederation. While Ambassador, he had to deal with the consequences of the Alvensleben Convention (which obliged Prussia to assist in the suppression of the Polish uprising). After his death, he was succeeded by Karl von Werther.

He was a Knight of the Order of St. John. He was buried in the family mausoleum at Luisenfriedhof II.