Heinrich Friedrich Karl vom und zum Stein (25 October 1757 – 29 June 1831), commonly known as Baron vom Stein, was a Prussian statesman who introduced the Prussian reforms, which paved the way for the unification of Germany. He promoted the abolition of serfdom, with indemnification to territorial lords; subjection of the nobles to manorial imposts; and the establishment of a modern municipal system.
Stein was from an old Franconian family. He was born on the family estate near Nassau, studied at Göttingen, and entered the civil service. Prussian conservatism hampered him in his efforts to bring about changes. In 1807, he was removed from office by the King for refusing to accept the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs but was recalled after the Peace of Tilsit.
After it became known that he had written a letter in which he criticised Napoleon, Stein was obliged to resign, which he did on 24 November 1808 and retired to the Austrian Empire, from which he was summoned to the Russian Empire by Tsar Alexander I in 1812. After the Battle of Leipzig in 1813, Stein became head of the council for the administration of the reconquered German countries.
Early life
Stein was the ninth child of Karl Philipp Freiherr vom Stein, and Henriette Karoline Langwerth von Simmern. Stein is the decedent of an ancient imperial family. Like many of his generation, he greatly admired Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor.
In his old age, Stein would express his gratitude to his parents for the influence. He added: My view of the world and of human affairs I gathered as a boy and youth, in the solitude of a country life, from ancient and modern history, and in particular I was attracted by the incidents of the eventful history of England.
Education
In 1773 Stein went to the University of Göttingen to study jurisprudence. He also found time to pursue his studies in English history and politics.
In 1777 Stein left Göttingen and proceeded to Wetzlar, the legal centre of the Holy Roman Empire. He observed the workings of its institutions and prepare himself for a career in law. Next, after a stay at each of the chief south German cities, he settled at Regensburg to observe the methods of the Imperial Diet. In 1779 he went to Vienna. He proceeded to Berlin early in 1780.
Career in Prussia
In Berlin, his admiration for Frederick the Great, together with his distaste for the pettiness of the legal procedure at Wetzlar, impelled him to take service in the monarchy of Prussia. He gaining an appointment in the department of mines and manufactures, at the head of that department was Friedrich Anton von Heynitz who was a master of economics and civil government. In June 1785 Stein was sent for a time as Prussian ambassador to the courts of Mainz, Zweibrücken, and Darmstadt. In 1786 and 1787 Stein went on a tour in England, where he pursued his researches into commercial and mining affairs.
Directorship
In November 1787 Stein was appointed Kammerdirektor (director of the chamber of war and domains) for the king's possessions west of the river Weser. From 1796 until 1803 he was supreme president of all the Westphalian chambers dealing with the commerce and mines of those Prussian lands with seat in Minden. One of the chief benefits he conferred on these districts was the canalization of the river Ruhr, which became an important outlet for the coal of that region. He also improved the navigation of the [[Weser].
War with France
Stein's early training and his sternly practical bent made him completely impervious to the enthusiasm that his contempoaryries showed for the French Revolution. He disliked the methods of the revolutionaries, which he saw as an interruption to the orderly development of peoples. Nevertheless, he carefully noted the new sources of national strength that arrose from reforms in France.
After being at war with France in 1792 to 1795 Prussia came to terms with the new revolutionary government in France at Basel in April 1795. The two nations remained at peace until 1806. However Austria and south Germany continued the struggle with France for most of that time. In Prussia Frederick William III succeeded Frederick William II in November 1797. Unfortunately, Frederick William III listened to advice of secret and irresponsible counsellors and persisted to undermine the Peace of Basle.