Background
He was born in Prague, the son of the Czechoslovakian Kolowrat (Kolovratové) noble family, whose ancestors had already served under the Luxembourg emperor Charles IV.
He was born in Prague, the son of the Czechoslovakian Kolowrat (Kolovratové) noble family, whose ancestors had already served under the Luxembourg emperor Charles IV.
Franz Anton finished his studies in 1799.
Contrary to Chancellor Metternich, he encouraged Czechoslovakian cultural and civic-national movements, exemplified by the founding of the Prague National Museum in 1818. The tensions between him and the chancellor continued: while Metternich favored a strong army, Kolowrat reduced the military budget. After the accession of Francis" incapable son Ferdinand I to the throne in 1835, Kolowrat together with Metternich led the Secret State Conference, the de facto government of the Empire from 1836 to 1848.
However the continuous disagreement between the two leaders palsied the Austrian politics and ultimately contributed to the outbreak of the Revolutions of 1848.
When Metternich had to resign, Kolowrat assumed the newly created office of an Austrian Minister-President, which he nevertheless laid down after only one month between 3–5 April, officially for health reasons. Kolowrat died in Vienna.
Kolowrat"s rivalry with Metternich intensified when in 1826 the emperor called him to Vienna, where he was elevated to a member of the Austrian State Council responsible for the Interior and Finances.