Franz Xaver von Ballestrem

Franz von Ballestrem (5 September 1834 – 23 December 1910) was a German entrepreneur, manager and politician for Centre Party. Early life Franz was born on 5 September 1834 in Plawniowitz (today in Poland) into the House of Ballerstrem, which belonged to an old German nobility. He was the son of Carl Wolfgang von Ballestrem (1801–1879) and his wife, Betha von Leithold (1803–1874). Biography He went to Adelskonvikt in Lviv. From 1848 to 1851 he went to school in Głogów and Namur. He studied at Berg Academy in Liège. Since 1855 Ballestrem was in Prussian Army and became in 1857 prussian army officer in 1st (Silesian) Life Cuirassiers "Great Elector". He was 1866 soldier in Austro-Prussian War and 1870/1871 in Franco-Prussian War. From 1867 he was Rittmeister. After death of his father he owned majorat in Plawniowitz in Silesia. From 1872 to 1893 and from 1898 to 1907 Ballestrem was member of the Reichstag of the German Empire. From 1898 to 1907 Ballestrem was president of the Reichstag. From 1891 to 1903 Ballestrem was also member of Prussian House of Representatives. In 1872 he was vicepresident of Katholikentag in Breslau. In 1890 he was founder and president of People's Association for Catholic Germany in Silesia. Since 1873 Ballestrem was Papal gentleman (Camerieri Segreti di Spada e Cappa). He was member of Order of the Holy Sepulchre and of Sovereign Military Order of Malta.