Johan Fredrik von Friesendorff

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Sir Johan Fredrik von Friesendorff, 1st Baronet (1617-1669) was born in Bremen. His father was Hieronymus von Friesendorff, the amtman (prefect) of Rotenburg and Bremervörde, and his mother was from the von Bockholtz family. His ability was recognised by the Swedish Lord High Treasurer Gabriel Oxenstierna, and he was appointed as Swedish Resident (title) in Portugal by him in 1649, and then appointed as a member of the Swedish Cabinet four years later. In 1656 he married Margareta Elisabet Gärffelt.

Shrewd and with a thorough knowledge of cabinet- and trade secrets, he was used by the Swedish state in many negotiations and diplomatic endeavours, including finishing an alliance with England in 1661, when he was also dubbed an English knight and baronet by Charles II (under the name of "Sir John Frederick van Freisendorf"). A few years later he was appointed Freiherr by the Emperor Leopold, and was also given the titles Councilor of the Court and member of the Chamber of Commerce in Sweden.

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Svenskt biografiskt handlexikon / I:364 (1906) Author: Herman Hofberg, Frithiof Heurlin, Viktor Millqvist, Olof Rubenson - as a part of project "Runeberg”