Ernst zu Münster

Who was Ernst zu Münster?

Count Ernst Friedrich Herbert zu Münster was a German statesman, politician and minister in the service of the House of Hanover.

Count Münster studied at Göttingen University together with the three youngest sons of King George III. He entered the public service in the Electorate of Hanover. One of his first tasks was to bring Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex and his company home from Italy. Later he was appointed minister for the affairs of Hanover in London in 1805 following Lenthe. At the Congress of Vienna he had to care for the German assets of the House of Hanover which he successfully did. The electorate became the Kingdom of Hanover and gained territories at the North Sea, partially ruled earlier in personal union, such as the Duchies of Bremen-Verden and partially ruled by others, to wit East Frisia. However, the bulk of another duchy ruled before the Napoleonic Wars in personal union, Saxe-Lauenburg north of the river Elbe was assigned in personal union to Denmark. He stayed in office until 1831.

Münster was married to Wilhelmine Charlotte, Countess of Münster and survived by his wife and son Georg Herbert Münster when he died in 1839.