david was born in allenstein olsztyn, royal prussia, gerhard dönhoff). he studied at the university of leipzig, where he also received a "magister degree". despite having converted to protestantism, he became the chancellor of bishop tiedemann giese between 1540 and 1549. after giese received the diocese of warmia, david joined the ducal court of albert, duke of prussia, in königsberg (królewiec) (today kalingrad) in 1549, taking his oath on 26 march 1550.