Melchior Friedrich, Count of Schönborn-Buchheim (16 March 1644 – 19 May 1717), was a German politician who served as a Minister of State of the Electorate of Mainz. After his death, four of his sons became German Prince-Bishops.
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Early life
He was born in Steinheim on 16 March 1644 as the son of Baron Philipp Erwein von Schönborn (1607–1668) and Maria Ursula von Greiffenclau-Vollraths. His younger brother, Lothar Franz von Schönborn, was the Archbishop-Elector of Mainz and Prince-Bishop of Bamberg, who is known best today for commissioning a number of Baroque buildings, such as the palace Schloss Weissenstein.
His father, the Bailiff of the Electorate of Mainz, was the only brother of Johann Philipp von Schönborn, Archbishop of Mainz from 1647 until 1673. Through his mother, he was a grand nephew of Georg Friedrich von Greiffenklau, the Elector and Archbishop of Mainz from 1626 until 1629. His uncle had appointed his father as Bailiff in Steinheim and then granted him offices and titles, including Hereditary Cupbearer of the Archbishopric of Mainz and Hereditary Cupbearer of the Bishopric of Würzburg.