after studying law at the university of frankfurt an der oder, he was employed by the district authority of glogau as barrister at the age of 19. at the age of 22, in 1745, the young barrister was admitted to the bar and five years later, in 1750, was appointed to the privy and criminal council. already, at the age of 25, he is to be seen represented in the great oil portrait with the family crest, 'the alighting dove'.