Background
He was born on 8 April 1634 in Ahrensbök, the eldest son of the first Duke of Plön, Joachim Ernest and Dorothea Augusta of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp.
He was born on 8 April 1634 in Ahrensbök, the eldest son of the first Duke of Plön, Joachim Ernest and Dorothea Augusta of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp.
From 1645 to 1650 he went on a grand tour around the countries of Europe, including England and France. In 1671 he inherited the dukedom from his father. In 1684 he had the first hunting lodge built in Traventhal.
This was followed in 1685 by Saint John"s Church, Plön and in 1690 the parish church of Plön.
During his reign the Treaty of Traventhal was signed at the ducal hunting lodge in Traventhal, a milestone during the Great Northern War. In 1704 went to Hungary and fought against the Kurucs with the forces of Holstein-Plön and Denmark.
He participated in the battle of Smolenice. John Adolphus married Dorothea of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, a daughter of Rudolf Augustus of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.
They had two children:
Adolphus Augustus (born 29 March 1680.
Died 29 June 1704), married Elisabeth Sophia of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Nordborg (1683-1767)
Dorothea Sophia (1692–1765), married Adolphus Frederick III, Duke of Mecklenburg.