Prince Ludwig Joseph Maximilian von Starhemberg (Paris, 12 March 1762 – Dürnstein, Lower Austria, 2 September 1833) was an Austrian diplomat and since 1802 Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece.
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Early life
Ludwig von Starhemberg was the son of Georg Adam, Prince of Starhemberg, the Austrian ambassador to the French court of Louis XV between 1754 and 1766, and his second wife, Princess Franziska von Salm-Salm. His godfather was the Louis XV, in person.
Career
Ludwig von Starhemberg spent most of his youth in Brussels, where his father was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary between 1770 and 1783. Ludwig was introduced into society at an early age and received a thorough education, which included learning the classical languages of Greek and Latin as well as mathematics, physics, history, philosophy, religion and solid physical training.
The diplomatic career of the young Count and later Prince Ludwig began in Russia, when he was sent in 1790 to Empress Catherine II in St. Petersburg with a letter of notification of Emperor Leopold II's accession to the throne. After his return, he became Envoy in The Hague, but in the same year he was moved to London, where he stayed as Austrian Ambassador for a total of 17 years, with only a one-year break in 1808, until February 1810. The aim of his policy was to tie Great Britain militarily and financially as a partner to the great powers Austria, Prussia and Russia against Napoleonic France. Due to the high cost of living and representation, he got into a severe financial crisis, with high debts.