Philipp von Neumann

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Philipp Roger Franz von Neumann known in England as Philipp de Neumann (4 December 1781–14 January 1851), had a highly influential career as an Austrian diplomat, mainly in England, although he was born, and eventually died in Brussels, but is buried in the Duke of Beaufort's family vault at Badminton, England. There is a memorial in Badminton church.

Member of the Austrian Freiherrstand (Baron), Commander of the Austrian Order of Leopold, Austrian Cross for Civil Metrit, Commander of the Portugese Order of the Tower and Sword, Commander of the Brazillian Order of the Southern Cross, Knight Grand Cross of the Russian Order of St Stanislas.

We are fortunate that the Diary of Philipp von Neumann was published. Philipp was an Austrian Diplomat who occupied a high position in society in Britain. He spent a great deal of his life in London.

Philipp Freiherr von Neumann (Philipp Baron de Neumann) was born 4 December 1781 in Brussels (then in the Austrian Netherlands). He was the son of Carl and Marie von Neumann (née Ducpetiaux). We know nothing of his education, but, since he did not begin work until he was 21, it seems likely that he attended university. He began his career in the Austrian Treasury Service in 1802 and was posted in Venice which had a few years previously come under Austrian control. After just over a year he joined the Austrian Diplomatic Service and was posted to Paris where Prince Metternich, his life-long friend and "guardian angel", was Ambassador. Philipp, who was a noted anglophile, enjoyed close friendships with many distinguished people from monarchs downwards, spent more than half of his life in England attached to the Austrian Embassy in Chandos House. Philipp took a lively interest in most things: the arts and architecture, science and technology, people, politics, money and economics, and travel amongst other things. In England for much of Philipp's sojourn, the Ambassador was Prince Esterhazy, and Philipp was "charge d'affaires" in his absence. Philipp's activity was regarded as notable, especially in 1814 and 1815, on the occasion of the remittance of the English subsidies to the Austrian Government, when he succeeded in obtaining very favourable conditions for Austria on the question of the rate of exchange. In 1824 he took part in the negotiations between Portugal and Brazil, as a result of which the reconciliation between King Don Juan VI and his son Don Pedro of Brazil, was brought about. In 1826 Philipp was sent on a special mission to Brazil, aboard the Royal Navy frigate "La Forte" (Captain Coghlan) (departing from Portsmouth on 21 Dec 1826, and arriving in Rio de Janeiro on 7 Feb 1827. During this voyage Philipp had to ask the Captain to refrain from giving him fifteen gun salutes at every opportunity!), returning aboard the French vessel "La Meuse" (departing Rio de Janeiro on 18 Mar 1827, and arriving in Brest on 10 May 1827. On his arrival in Brest the press were reporting the loss of "La Forte" with all hands after leaving Madeira.). As a result of this visit Philipp succeeded in silencing the doubts that arose concerning the legitimacy of the title of the Infante Don Miguel to the Regency of Portugal; and in the October of the following year he attended the negotiations on this matter, carried on at Vienna. In December 1829 he earned great credit by the way he conducted the Treaty of Commerce between Austria and England, and was created a Baron as a result. On the social front it was Philipp who introduced the waltz to London, where he was frequently seen perpetually turning with the Princess Esterhazy at Almack's (The club for High Society); and, in the course of time, the waltzing mania, having turned the heads of society generally, descended to their feet, and the waltz was practised in the morning in certain noble mansions in London with unparalleled assiduity. The Duke of Wellington wrote of Philipp, 'He is an excellent man. I have known him for many years; and I do not know a better.' In 1844 he became Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary for Austria to the Court of St James. On 5 December 1844 he married The Right Honourable Lady Charlotte Augusta Frederica Somerset, daughter of The Duke of Beaufort. They had a daughter Natalie born 9 March 1845 in England. A still-born son was born on 13 September 1850, and Augusta died one week later on 20 September 1850 in Brussels. Philipp died less than four months later on 16 January 1851 in Brussels.

Philipp was a man of moods, and there is no doubt that he was what is called a ladies' man. There are many references to his "affaires du coeur" scattered throughout the pages of his diary, in which such charmers as the mysterious C. and another no less mysterious Madame M., Princess Esterhazy and Lady Caroline Montague, Miss Emily Johnstone (to whom he was actually engaged, but who died six months later to his profound and pathetically expressed grief), as well as others, had a place. The breaking of a liaison was enough to make him wish never again to see the country in which it had occurred; the forming of a new one was sufficient to make him never want to leave it. He was, indeed, peculiarly temperamental; and, however circumspect and careful he may have been as a diplomatist - and there is every evidence that he was a thoroughly competent and far-seeing one - when his imagination or his affections were touched he was very much the primeval man. He was a very cultivated man; a reader who appreciated Scott and Byron; he was, if not a practical, at least a theoretical, musician who could judge of vocal and instrumental ability with the air and assurance of a critic. He seldom, indeed, missed going to the opera or to concerts, and on at least one occasion Queen Victoria took his advice as to the engagement of a singer of superior quality to those who sometimes performed at the Palace. He had an equally acute judgement, and standards, regarding the theatre and its performers. He also demonstrated a deep understanding of art and artists, and commissioned the Italian sculptor, Bartolini, to sculpt a bust of Charlotte (completed in May 1847). He was a man of society in London over the long period of thirty-nine years off and on. From three sovereigns of the United Kingdom with whom he was associated downwards, he was a welcome guest at practically all the great houses in London and a large number in the country. There is hardly a well-known man or woman of the period with whom he was not on more or less terms of friendship. With the leaders of the two great political parties he was not merely a diplomatic colleague, but in many cases on the most intimate of terms, and his record of almost constant visits to Wellington at Strathfieldsaye and to Peel at Drayton, to Palmerston and Aberdeen and the rest, prove that his company was sought for other reasons than those political ones which might have rendered such invitations obligatory. He was by instinct and upbringing a Tory, but was welcome in the strongholds of the Whigs. He was also a great favourite at Court. In short Philipp was always amongst the elite, who regarded him highly, wherever he was; Vienna, France, England, etc. There were only two people he expressly disliked: Count d'Orsay and Prince Louis Napoleon.

Philipp's Wedding 1844 - From The Times 6 December 1844

"MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE.

Yesterday the marriage of his Excellency Baron de Neumann, the Austrian Minister, and Lady Augusta Somerset, eldest daughter of the Duke of Beaufort, was solemnised. The nuptial ceremony was first performed according to the forms of the Roman Catholic Church, at the Austrian Embassy, Chandos-house, in the presence of a huge party of the relatives and friends of both connexions. The Duke of Wellington, his Excellency the French Ambassador and Countess de St. Aulaire, his Excellency Baron Brunow, his Excellency Baron de Cetto, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Marchioness of Ailesbury, &c, arrived shortly before 10 o'clock at Chandos-house, in order to be present.

The Duke and Duchess of Beaufort, accompanied by the bride, the Marquis of Worcester, and some youthful branches of their family, came from Beaufort-house precisely at 10 o'clock.

His Excellency Baron de Neumann, immediately on the Duke of Beaufort's arrival, descended from the embassy, and handed his betrothed from the carriage. After the lapse of about five minutes, the party repaired to the saloon, where the marriage ceremony was performed. The Rev. Dr. Griffiths, vicar apostolic of the district of London, was the officiating clergyman.

The bride was attended by her youthful sisters, Lady Blanche and Lady Rose Somerset, and the daughters of Lord Fitzroy Somerset.

Among the distinguished party present were the Duke of Wellington, the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort, the Marquis of Worcester, and Ladies Somerset, his Excellency the French Ambassador and Countess de St. Aulaire, his Excellency Baron De Cetto, his Excellency Baron Brunow, the Marchioness of Ailesbury, the Earl of Aberdeen, Sir W. C. Codrington, M.P., and Lady Georgiana Codrington, M. Koudriaffsky, Lord Fitzroy Somerset and the Hon. Misses Somerset, Mr. Culling Smith, Baron Knesebeck, and the following noblemen connected with the Austrian Embassy :-Count Esterhazy, Baron Koller, Baron Brenner, and Count Zichy Ferraris.

The ceremony having concluded as far as regarded the solemnity at Chandos-house, the party adjourned to St George's Church, Hanover-square, where it was arranged that the marriage should be solemnized according to the forms prescribed by the Established Church. It was before 11 when the wedding party reached the church, and the morning prayers not having terminated, there was a trifling delay. Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge, and the Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and the Earl and Countess of Errol and family, besides many personages of rank, were assembled in the Church. The Duchess of Cambridge and the Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz maintained the strictest privacy, owing to the resent demise of the Princess Sophia Matilda of Gloucester, and were attired in deep mourning.

The ordinary service having concluded, the Rev. G. Wellesley, rector of Strathfieldsaye, and nephew of the Duke of Wellington, performed the marriage ceremony, there being present precisely the came circle of relative, and friends as at the Austrian Embassy.

At the conclusion of the ceremony the noble bride and bridegroom went to Beaufort-house, and subsequently proceeded to the neighbourhood of Windsor for a short time before leaving for the Continent. The noble Baron and Baroness depart in the course of the ensuing week for Florence, the Baron haying been appointed Minister from the Emperor of Austria to the Court of the Grand Duke of Tuscany."

[In 'The Reminiscences and Recollections of Captain Gronow, 1810-1860', is stated: ..... In 1814, the dances at Almack's were Scotch reels and the old English country-dance; and the orchestra, being from Edinburgh, was conducted by Neil Gow. It was not until 1815 that Lady Jersey introduced from Paris the favourite quadrille, which has so long remained popular. I recollect the persons who formed the very first quadrille that was ever danced at Almack's: they were Lady Jersey, Lady Harriett Butler, Lady Susan Ryde, and Miss Montgomery; the men being the Count St Aldegonde, Mr Montgomery, Mr Montague, and Charles Standish. The "mazy waltz" was also brought to us about this time; but there were comparatively few who at first ventured to whirl round the salons of Almack's; in course of time Lord Palmerston might, however, have been seen describing an infinite number of circles with Madame de Lieven. Baron de Neumann was frequently seen perpetually turning with the Princess Esterhazy; and, in the course of time, the waltzing mania, having turned the heads of society generally, descended to their feet, and the waltz was practised in the morning in certain noble mansions in London with unparalleled assiduity. .........

In the section: Almack's in 1815 is stated in respect of an illustration in the book. see below:

The personages delineated in the picture are well worthy of notice, both from the position they held in the fashionable world, and from their being represented with great truth and accuracy. On the left, the man with the red face, laughing at Brummell, is Charles, Marquis of Queensberry; the great George himself, the admirable Crichton of the age, comes next, in a dégagé attitude, with his fingers in his waistcoat pocket. His neckcloth is inimitable, and must have cost him much time and trouble to arrive at such perfection. He is talking earnestly to the charming Duchess of Rutland, who was a Howard, and mother to the present Duke. The tall man, in a black coat, who is preparing to waltz with Princess Esterhazy, so long ambassadress of Austria in London, is the Comte de St. Antonio, afterwards Duke of Canizzaro. He resided many years in England, was a handsome man, and a great lady-killer, and married an English heiress, Miss Johnson. The stout gentleman waltzing with the Russian ambassadress, Countess, afterwards Princess Lieven, is Baron de Neumann at that time secretary to the Austrian embassy. He was afterwards minister at Florence, and married a daughter of the Duke of Beaufort's. We next behold, in a wonderful light green coat, black tights, and a crushed hat, the late Sir George Warrender, the famous epicure, whose name was pronounced by Sir George Copley to be really Sir George Provender. The worthy Baronet is talking to the handsome Comte de St. Aldegonde, afterwards a general, and at this period aide-de-camp to Louis Philippe, then Duke of Orleans.

The original sketch was given to Brummell by the artist who executed it; and it was highly prized by the king of the dandies. It was purchased at the sale of his effects in Chapel Street by the person who gave it to Captain Gronow.]

[edit] References

• Philipp von Neumann, edited by E. Beresford Chancellor, 1928. “The Diary of Philipp von Neumann“, 2 Volumes, Philip Allan, London.
• Gronow, 1892. “The Reminiscences and Recollections of Captain Gronow“, 2 Volumes, Nimmo, London.