Ludvig Holstein-Holsteinborg

He was born at Holsteinborg Manor in Slagelse, Denmark. Son of Friedrich Adolph Holstein, Count of Holsteinborg and Wilhelmine Juliane Reventlow, Holstein was a descendant of Ulrik Adolf Holstein (1664–1737) and was the 7th Count of Holsteinborg.[2]

In 1836 he enrolled at the University of Berlin, but graduated from the University of Copenhagen.

In 1850, Holstein married Bodild Joachimime Zahrtmann, the daughter of Navy Minister Admiral C.C. Zahrtmann. They had five children. She died in 1876. He married Betzy Laura Rasmussen in 1878, with whom he had one son.[3]

Although he was himself a member of the Centre Party (Danish: Mellempartiet), Holstein led a coalition between the National Landowners and the National Liberals. The ministry was dominated by its three National Liberal ministers, Carl Christian Hall, Andreas Frederik Krieger and Carl Emil Fenger. [4]

As Prime Minister, Holstein rarely put forward his own opinions; his role was so passive that editor Vilhelm Topsøe satirized him as "the topping on the Kransekake". [5]

In 1870 he received the Grand Cross of Order of the Dannebrog and was knighted in the Order of the Elephant. In 1862 he had become Dannebrogsmand and in 1872 he had received the Merit Medal in gold.