Struensee
JOHANN FRIED- RICH, COUNT, a Danish statesman; born in Halle-on-the-Saale, Prussian Saxony, Aug. 5, 1737; studied medicine, and in 1768 was appointed physician to the King of Denmark. He soon became a favorite with both the king and queen, and effected the dismissal of all those who were obstacles to his own ambitious plans. In 1770 he advised the king (who was little better than an imbecile) to abolish the council of state, a measure which roused the indignation of the Danish nobility, since it threw all authority into the hands of the queen and the favorite. Struensee by various means gradually usurped the administration of all affairs in the name of the king, and caused himself to be created count. His arrogance now caused a conspiracy against him, and on Jan. 16, 1772, the queen, Struensee, and their partisans were seized. The favorite was brought before a special commission, was found guilty of criminal relations with the queen (on insufficient evidence), convicted, and executed on April 28, 1772.