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Freiherr Sigismund Christoph Gustav von Löw von und zu Steinfurth (7 November 1757–16 July 1846) was a Hanoverian general of the Napoleonic Wars who served under the British. He is also known as Sigismund von Löw and Sigismund Baron Low.
Born on 7 November 1757, von Löw was the youngest child of Johann Freiherr von Löw von und zu Steinfurth, Lord Chamberlain of Hanover and his wife Sophie Freiin Marie Margarethe Diede Zu Fürstenstein. He joined the Hanoverian Foot Guards as an Ensign on 1 April 1774, and served there for the next twenty-eight years, being promoted to Captain on 8 December 1787.[1]
Captain von Löw first saw active service with his regiment in Flanders during the War of the First Coalition in 1793. He fought at the battle of Famars and at the siege of Valenciennes. He was promoted to Major on 15 August the following year. After the Peace of Basel in 1795, von Löw's regiment returned to Hanover and spent the next seven years at peace. He was promoted to brevet Lieutenant Colonel on 8 December 1802.[1]
British serviceedit
Following the French dissolution of Hanover, von Löw was one of the many soldiers who fled to Britain to form the King's German Legion. Joining this body on 21 January 1806, he was given command of the 7th Line Infantry battalion and promoted to Colonel (this promotion being back-dated to 20 December 1804). He led this battalion at Copenhagen in 1807 and on Sir John Moore's abortive mission to Sweden in 1808.[1]
Still under Moore's overall command, von Löw was part of the force which landed in Maceira Bay, Portugal on 25 August 1808. His battalion was chosen to form part of the garrison of Lisbon. In March 1809 they became part of General Sir John Murray's KGL brigade, participated in the Oporto campaign but did not fight in the battle.[1]
On 18 June 1809, von Löw was promoted to Brigadier General and placed in command of the brigade. The previous commander, Brigadier General von Drieburg, had returned to Britain to recover his health, and von Löw was the senior Colonel in the Legion. His first chance to lead them in combat was at the battle of Talavera, where they were badly mauled following an ill-timed charge across the Portina stream. In August, following the death of General Langwerth, he was given command of a new KGL brigade, the largest in Wellington's army. He led this force at Bussaco, Fuentes de Oñoro, Ciudad Rodrigo, Salamanca and Burgos.[1]
By this time, von Löw's health had broken down and Wellington arranged for him to be recalled to Britain. He wrote to the General saying "I wish you to believe that I am very sensible, and that I will always remember with pleasure your services that you have rendered to this army; and that wherever you may go, you will have my wishes for your success and good health." General von Löw relinquished command of the brigade on 6 May 1813 and left for Britain. He was not actively employed by the British Army again.[1]
Return to Hanoveredit
Returning to Hanover after the war, von Löw was made a Major General in 1816, a Lieutenant General in 1817 and a General in 1838 (though he was pensioned from the Hanoverian Army in 1817). He died in Offenbach am Main on 16 July 1846(1846-07-16) (aged 88).[1]
Sourcesedit
^ abcdefgMcGuigan, Ron; Burnham, Robert (2017). Wellington's Brigade Commanders: Peninsula and Waterloo. Havertown: Pen and Sword. ISBN9781473850804.
May 09, 2024
sigismund, löw, this, article, relies, largely, entirely, single, source, relevant, discussion, found, talk, page, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, citations, additional, sources, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, march,. This article relies largely or entirely on a single source Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources Find sources Sigismund von Low news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2021 Freiherr Sigismund Christoph Gustav von Low von und zu Steinfurth 7 November 1757 16 July 1846 was a Hanoverian general of the Napoleonic Wars who served under the British He is also known as Sigismund von Low and Sigismund Baron Low Sigismund von LowBorn 1757 11 07 7 November 1757Staden FlorstadtDied16 July 1846 1846 07 16 aged 88 Offenbach am MainAllegiance Electorate of Hanover House of Hanover Kingdom of HanoverService wbr branchHanoverian Army British ArmyYears of service1774 1817RankGeneralUnitKing s German LegionCommands held7th Line Battalion KGL4th Line Battalion KGLKGL Brigade 1st divisionBattles warsFrench Revolutionary Wars Peninsular War Contents 1 Early life and Hanoverian service 2 British service 3 Return to Hanover 4 SourcesEarly life and Hanoverian service editBorn on 7 November 1757 von Low was the youngest child of Johann Freiherr von Low von und zu Steinfurth Lord Chamberlain of Hanover and his wife Sophie Freiin Marie Margarethe Diede Zu Furstenstein He joined the Hanoverian Foot Guards as an Ensign on 1 April 1774 and served there for the next twenty eight years being promoted to Captain on 8 December 1787 1 Captain von Low first saw active service with his regiment in Flanders during the War of the First Coalition in 1793 He fought at the battle of Famars and at the siege of Valenciennes He was promoted to Major on 15 August the following year After the Peace of Basel in 1795 von Low s regiment returned to Hanover and spent the next seven years at peace He was promoted to brevet Lieutenant Colonel on 8 December 1802 1 British service editFollowing the French dissolution of Hanover von Low was one of the many soldiers who fled to Britain to form the King s German Legion Joining this body on 21 January 1806 he was given command of the 7th Line Infantry battalion and promoted to Colonel this promotion being back dated to 20 December 1804 He led this battalion at Copenhagen in 1807 and on Sir John Moore s abortive mission to Sweden in 1808 1 Still under Moore s overall command von Low was part of the force which landed in Maceira Bay Portugal on 25 August 1808 His battalion was chosen to form part of the garrison of Lisbon In March 1809 they became part of General Sir John Murray s KGL brigade participated in the Oporto campaign but did not fight in the battle 1 On 18 June 1809 von Low was promoted to Brigadier General and placed in command of the brigade The previous commander Brigadier General von Drieburg had returned to Britain to recover his health and von Low was the senior Colonel in the Legion His first chance to lead them in combat was at the battle of Talavera where they were badly mauled following an ill timed charge across the Portina stream In August following the death of General Langwerth he was given command of a new KGL brigade the largest in Wellington s army He led this force at Bussaco Fuentes de Onoro Ciudad Rodrigo Salamanca and Burgos 1 By this time von Low s health had broken down and Wellington arranged for him to be recalled to Britain He wrote to the General saying I wish you to believe that I am very sensible and that I will always remember with pleasure your services that you have rendered to this army and that wherever you may go you will have my wishes for your success and good health General von Low relinquished command of the brigade on 6 May 1813 and left for Britain He was not actively employed by the British Army again 1 Return to Hanover editReturning to Hanover after the war von Low was made a Major General in 1816 a Lieutenant General in 1817 and a General in 1838 though he was pensioned from the Hanoverian Army in 1817 He died in Offenbach am Main on 16 July 1846 1846 07 16 aged 88 1 Sources edit a b c d e f g McGuigan Ron Burnham Robert 2017 Wellington s Brigade Commanders Peninsula and Waterloo Havertown Pen and Sword ISBN 9781473850804 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sigismund von Low amp oldid 1179191547, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
