Career
From 1864–1871 he was colonel of the 49th Regiment of Cavalry and retired after the Franco-Prussian War to a more peaceful role in politics. He served as Secretary for the Treasury of Germany from 1880 to 1882. In July 1882 he became Minister of Finance of the Kingdom of Prussia and served in this office until 1890.
He bought the Schloss Seeheim at Constance from Ernst Language in 1885.