George was not in Prussia at the time (still in Neutchatel and then in Spain), so he had to deal with all of this from afar. Also, because of the Kintore issue, Fritz personally wrote to G2 to obtain a pardon for George (in 1759), which was granted insofar as that he could inherit the lands if not the title (I think?). He returned to Scotland for a while in 1761 or so, too. Also also, the person to handle this and all other Prussian affairs in London at the time? Dodo v. Knyphausen, Oriane's brother. Oh, and Andrew Mitchell was involved as well, speaking on George's behalf.
I also checked the George Keith bio I'd found ages ago, which vexed me by containing lots of primary source quotes but not actually sourcing any of them. :P Anyway, it says a) that James Keith wrote to Scottish relatives on behalf of his brother some months before his death (here), but it doesn't mention the content of his letter. Might have something to do with the document in question, might not. And b) only mentions Eva Merthens once, much earlier, when they just moved to Berlin. Which is here, but I'll just quote it in full, because it does mention some "friction" she allegedly caused:
At Berlin the brothers did not live under one roof. The Field-Marshal's handsome Finnish mistress, Eva Merthens, " qui menait un peu le bon Marechal," was always somewhat jealous of his affection for his brother and of the latter 's influence over him, and often caused friction. So the Earl Marischal's home with his menagerie went on as before.
This is quite obviously biased in George's direction (I suspect the unsourced quote in this might be from him somewhere), but seems to confirm that there were issues before James' death already, and that George might have mentioned them in letters or something. No mention of James' children (by the author, not by George) except for saying that he had no legitimate ones.
George was not in Prussia at the time (still in Neutchatel and then in Spain), so he had to deal with all of this from afar.
I had the impression he was in Neuchatel, so thank you for confirming.
Also, because of the Kintore issue, Fritz personally wrote to G2 to obtain a pardon for George (in 1759), which was granted insofar as that he could inherit the lands if not the title (I think?). He returned to Scotland for a while in 1761 or so, too.
Huh, for some reason I remembered this as being just post-Seven Years War. Ah, Wikipedia says "but despite brief return trips to Scotland in 1761 and 1763–64," I must have been thinking of the second one. Well, I need to shift this episode a few years earlier in my head, then.
Also also, the person to handle this and all other Prussian affairs in London at the time? Dodo v. Knyphausen, Oriane's brother.
You know, I spent much of yesterday reading about Dodo and his diplomatic activities in London, and I somehow still didn't make the connection when I switched to reading about James and George? Thank you for connecting the dots!
At Berlin the brothers did not live under one roof. The Field-Marshal's handsome Finnish mistress, Eva Merthens, " qui menait un peu le bon Marechal," was always somewhat jealous of his affection for his brother and of the latter 's influence over him, and often caused friction. So the Earl Marischal's home with his menagerie went on as before.
See, this sounds like a totally normal family situation to me. :D (My family doesn't feud, it just does splinter groups and total radio silence until death. Less drama, but same idea.)
No mention of James' children (by the author, not by George) except for saying that he had no legitimate ones.
If you *ever* find out *any* of their names or dates, please let me know!
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Re: Keith family drama
George was not in Prussia at the time (still in Neutchatel and then in Spain), so he had to deal with all of this from afar. Also, because of the Kintore issue, Fritz personally wrote to G2 to obtain a pardon for George (in 1759), which was granted insofar as that he could inherit the lands if not the title (I think?). He returned to Scotland for a while in 1761 or so, too. Also also, the person to handle this and all other Prussian affairs in London at the time? Dodo v. Knyphausen, Oriane's brother. Oh, and Andrew Mitchell was involved as well, speaking on George's behalf.
I also checked the George Keith bio I'd found ages ago, which vexed me by containing lots of primary source quotes but not actually sourcing any of them. :P Anyway, it says a) that James Keith wrote to Scottish relatives on behalf of his brother some months before his death (here), but it doesn't mention the content of his letter. Might have something to do with the document in question, might not.
And b) only mentions Eva Merthens once, much earlier, when they just moved to Berlin. Which is here, but I'll just quote it in full, because it does mention some "friction" she allegedly caused:
At Berlin the brothers did not live under one roof. The Field-Marshal's handsome Finnish mistress, Eva Merthens, " qui menait un peu le bon Marechal," was always somewhat jealous of his affection for his brother and of the latter 's influence over him, and often caused friction. So the Earl Marischal's home with his menagerie went on as before.
This is quite obviously biased in George's direction (I suspect the unsourced quote in this might be from him somewhere), but seems to confirm that there were issues before James' death already, and that George might have mentioned them in letters or something. No mention of James' children (by the author, not by George) except for saying that he had no legitimate ones.
Re: Keith family drama
George was not in Prussia at the time (still in Neutchatel and then in Spain), so he had to deal with all of this from afar.
I had the impression he was in Neuchatel, so thank you for confirming.
Also, because of the Kintore issue, Fritz personally wrote to G2 to obtain a pardon for George (in 1759), which was granted insofar as that he could inherit the lands if not the title (I think?). He returned to Scotland for a while in 1761 or so, too.
Huh, for some reason I remembered this as being just post-Seven Years War. Ah, Wikipedia says "but despite brief return trips to Scotland in 1761 and 1763–64," I must have been thinking of the second one. Well, I need to shift this episode a few years earlier in my head, then.
Also also, the person to handle this and all other Prussian affairs in London at the time? Dodo v. Knyphausen, Oriane's brother.
You know, I spent much of yesterday reading about Dodo and his diplomatic activities in London, and I somehow still didn't make the connection when I switched to reading about James and George? Thank you for connecting the dots!
At Berlin the brothers did not live under one roof. The Field-Marshal's handsome Finnish mistress, Eva Merthens, " qui menait un peu le bon Marechal," was always somewhat jealous of his affection for his brother and of the latter 's influence over him, and often caused friction. So the Earl Marischal's home with his menagerie went on as before.
See, this sounds like a totally normal family situation to me. :D (My family doesn't feud, it just does splinter groups and total radio silence until death. Less drama, but same idea.)
No mention of James' children (by the author, not by George) except for saying that he had no legitimate ones.
If you *ever* find out *any* of their names or dates, please let me know!