Jenny Von Westphalen - Background

Background

Jenny von Westphalen was born in Salzwedel to a prominent family of the Prussian aristocracy. Her father, Baron Ludwig von Westphalen (1770–1842), was a former widower with four previous children, who served as "Regierungsrat" in Salzwedel and in Trier. Her paternal grandfather Baron Christian Philip Heinrich von Westphalen (1723–1792) had been de facto "chief of staff" to Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick during the Seven Years' War. Her paternal grandmother, Jeanie Wishart (1742–1811), was a Scottish noble: her father George Wishart (1703–1785) was a direct descendent of the 9th Earl of Angus and Lady Agnes Keith, the latter in turn a direct descendant of King James I, and the royal House of Stuart, while her mother's family were the Dukes of Argyll, for centuries Scotland's most powerful aristocratic family. Her mother, Baroness Amalia Julia Carolina von Westphalen (née Heubel), lived from 1780 to 1856. Jenny von Westphalen's brother Edgar Gerhard Julius Oscar Ludwig von Westphalen (1819–1890), was a schoolmate and friend of Karl Marx. Another brother, Baron Ferdinand Otto Wilhelm Henning von Westphalen, was the conservative Interior Minister of Prussia, 1850–58. Although he was one of the leading conservative forces in 19th century Prussia, Baron Ferdinand would remain on amiable terms with Karl and Jenny Marx.