Count Wirich Philipp von Daun (19 October 1669 – 30 July 1741) was an Austrian Field Marshal in the War of Spanish Succession, and father of the better known Leopold Josef Graf Daun.
He was born in Vienna to Wilhelm Graf Daun, also a Field Marshal. Wirich served in the War of Spanish Succession under Eugene of Savoy, and gained his glory in the successful defence of Turin in 1706. He also laid siege to and conquered Gaeta on 30 September 1707.
After the war, in 1713 he became first Austrian Viceroy of Naples. In 1718 he lost the Battle of Milazzo during the War of the Quadruple Alliance, when Spain invaded neighbouring Sicily.
From February until October 1725 he was interim Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands. He was to prepare the arrival of the new governor Archduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria, sister of emperor Charles VI. The situation in the Austrian Netherlands was very difficult after the mismanagement by the previous plenipotentiary minister Hercule-Louis Turinetti, marquis of Prié. Daun profited from the positive atmosphere resulting from the departure of Prié. He enforced a reform of the military organisation and administration in the Southern Netherlands, in which he incorporated the existing 'Belgian' army into the imperial forces.[1]
From 1725 until 1736 he was Governor of Milan.
Von Daun died at Vienna, and was buried in the Georgskapelle of the Augustinerkirche, together with his son.
| Preceded by Prince Eugene of Savoy Hercule-Louis Turinetti, marquis of Prié |
Governor of the Austrian Netherlands 1725-1725 |
Succeeded by Archduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria (1680–1741) |