Joseph Maria von Radowitz, Jr.
Joseph Maria Friedrich von Radowitz ( born May 19, 1839 in Frankfurt am Main, † January 15, 1912 in Berlin) was a Prussian- German diplomat and Acting Foreign Secretary of the German Empire.
Diplomatic career
Radowitz, son of Prussian politician Joseph of Radowitz, attended the Royal Grammar School in Erfurt and studied law in Bonn and Berlin. In 1857 he became a member of Corps Borussia Bonn.
In 1860 he entered the Prussian civil service. In 1861 he came to the Legation in Constantinople Opel, a year later as a counselor of legation to China and Japan. In 1864 he has already led the business of the Consulate General in Shanghai.
After returning to Europe, he was transferred in 1865 to the embassy to Paris. In the German war he worked as a aide of Prince Frederick Charles Nicholas of Prussia and then came to the Prussian embassy to Munich.
1870 one made it to the Consul General of the North German Confederation in Bucharest and at the same time a member of the European Danube Commission. In 1872 he returned to Constantinople Opel, this time as business support.
Finally, he went as a head of department in the Foreign Office in Berlin, where he was responsible for oriental matters. Here he became Privy Councillor of Legation. Despite his appointment as ambassador in Athens 1874, he was employed in the Foreign Office. In 1875 he was sent as a representative of the affected German Ambassador to St. Petersburg. Radowitz Russia made an offer of German support for Russian interests in the Balkans for reciprocity in the West. What is behind the "Mission Radowitz " is more controversial in the research. It is believed that Bismarck wanted to achieve with this action only an active policy of Russia in the East - where it should meet the other major European powers. Resulting conflicts in the Balkans would have relieved the center of Europe. He took 1878 as ambassador at the Congress of Berlin in part.
State Secretary in the Foreign Office
From 6 November 1879 to the April 17, 1880 Radowitz was appointed acting as successor to the late Bernhard Ernst von Bülow Secretary of State in the Foreign Office. Successor in this function was on April 20, 1880, the future Chancellor Clovis Hohenlohe.
In summer 1880 he managed a special mission, the embassy in Paris. In October 1882 he was appointed ambassador of the German Empire in Constantinople Opel and 1892 in Madrid. In 1906 he represented the German Reich on the Algeciras Conference.