The New International Encyclopædia/Struensee, Johann Friedrich von
STRUENSEE, , , Count (1737-72). A Danish statesman,
born August 5, 1737, at Halle, Saxony. He
studied medicine, became the physician of King
../Christian VII./ (q.v.) of Denmark (1768), and
rose to the highest favor. In 1771 he was made
Minister of State with unusual powers. Since
the Revolution of 1660 Denmark had been under
the domination of the nobility, who as a council
of State governed the country. Struensee
dissolved the council, and proclaimed the
establishment of the ancient royal power. These
measures amounted in reality to a revolution,
and to a declaration of war against the aristocracy.
The Queen and Struensee, in whose hands
the whole power now was, chose new ministers,
and excluded the feeble Christian entirely from
the management of affairs. In opposition to
the policy of his predecessors, Struensee
endeavored to free Denmark from Russian
influence, and to find a natural ally in Sweden.
He put the finances in order, reduced
the expenditure, freed industry and trade,
encouraged education, mitigated the penal laws,
and brought order into the administration. Serfdom
was partially abolished. The haste with
which this revolutionary course was pursued
produced a reaction, while the clergy were aroused
by Struensee's outspoken skepticism. The Queen
and Struensee were accused of criminal relations
and the King was prevailed upon, apparently
against his will, to sign warrants for the arrest
of Struensee. The Minister was accused of having
conspired against the person and throne of
the King, and of being the lover of the Queen. He
was sentenced to death and executed April 28,
1772. Queen Carolina Matilda left Denmark in
May, 1772, and died in 1775 in the castle of Celle
in Hanover. Consult Struensee et la cour de
Copenhague — mémoires de Reverdil (Paris,
1858).