View source for Friedrich Ferdinand von Beust

{{Short description|German and Austrian statesman}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[Hochgeboren]]
| name                = Friedrich Ferdinand Graf von Beust
| honorific-suffix    = 
| image               = Friedrich Ferdinand von Beust 1860.jpg
| caption             = Beust c. 1860
| order               = 6th
| office              = Chairman of the Ministers' Conference of the Austrian Empire
| term_start          = 7 February 1867
| term_end            = 30 December 1867
| monarch             = [[Franz Joseph I of Austria|Francis Joseph I]]
| predecessor         = [[Count Richard Belcredi|Richard Graf von Belcredi]]
| successor           = [[Prince Karl of Auersperg|Karl Fürst von Auersperg]] (for [[Cisleithania]])<br />[[Gyula Andrássy]] (for [[Transleithania]])
| order2              = 1st
| office2             = Chairman of the Ministers' Council for Common Affairs of Austria-Hungary
| term_start2         = 30 December 1867
| term_end2           = 8 November 1871
| monarch2            = [[Franz Joseph I of Austria|Francis Joseph I]]
| predecessor2        = himself (for the Austrian Empire)
| successor2          = [[Gyula Andrássy]]
| order3              = 
| office3             = [[List of Ministers of the Interior (Austria)|Interior Minister of the Austrian Empire]]
| term_start3         = 7 February 1867
| term_end3           = 7 March 1867
| monarch3            = [[Franz Joseph I of Austria|Francis Joseph I]]
| primeminister3      = 
| predecessor3        = [[Count Richard Belcredi|Richard Graf von Belcredi]]
| successor3          = [[Eduard Taaffe, 11th Viscount Taaffe|Eduard Graf von Taaffe]]
| order4              = 1st
| office4             = Foreign Minister of Austria-Hungary
| term_start4         = 30 December 1866
| term_end4           = 8 November 1871
| monarch4            = [[Franz Joseph I of Austria|Francis Joseph I]]
| primeminister4      = 
| predecessor4        = himself (as Foreign Minister of the Austrian Empire)
| successor4          = [[Gyula Andrássy]]
| order5              = 9th
| office5             = Foreign Minister of the Austrian Empire
| term_start5         = 30 October 1866
| term_end5           = 30 December 1866
| monarch5            = [[Franz Joseph I of Austria|Francis Joseph I]]
| primeminister5      = 
| predecessor5        = [[Alexander von Mensdorff-Pouilly|Alexander Graf von Mensdorff-Pouilly]]
| successor5          = himself (as Foreign Minister of Austria-Hungary)
| order6              = 6th
| office6             = Minister-President of the Kingdom of Saxony
| term_start6         = 28 October 1858
| term_end6           = 15 August 1866
| monarch6            = [[John, King of Saxony]]
| primeminister6      = 
| predecessor6        = [[Ferdinand von Zschinsky]]
| successor6          = [[Johann Paul von Falkenstein]]
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1809|01|13|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Dresden]], [[Kingdom of Saxony]]
| death_date          = {{death date and age|1886|10|24|1809|01|13|df=y}}
| death_place         = [[Sankt Andrä-Wördern|Altenberg]], [[Austria-Hungary]]
| spouse              = [[Mathilde von Jordan]]
| children            = Friedrich Graf von Beust
| signature           = Signatur Friedrich Ferdinand von Beust.PNG
}}
'''Count Friedrich Ferdinand von Beust''' ({{langx|de|link=no|Friedrich Ferdinand Graf{{efn|{{German title Graf}}}} von Beust}}; 13 January 1809 – 24 October 1886) was a [[Germans|German]] and [[Austrians|Austrian]] [[politician|statesman]]. As an opponent of [[Otto von Bismarck]], he attempted to conclude a common policy of the German middle states between [[Austrian Empire|Austria]] and [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]].

== Birth and education ==
Beust was born in [[Dresden]], where his father held office in the Saxon court. He was descended from a noble family which had originally sprung from the [[Margraviate of Brandenburg]], and descended from [[Joachim von Beust]] (1522–1597). After studying at [[University of Leipzig|Leipzig]] and [[University of Göttingen|Göttingen]] he entered the Saxon public service. {{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

== Political career ==
His initial political career was as a diplomat and politician in Saxony. In 1836 he was made secretary of legation at [[Berlin]], and afterwards held appointments at [[Paris]], [[Munich]], and [[London]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

In March 1848 he was summoned to [[Dresden]] to take the office of foreign minister, but in consequence of the outbreak of the revolution was not appointed. In May he was appointed Saxon envoy at Berlin, and in February 1849 was again summoned to Dresden, and this time appointed minister of state and of foreign affairs. He held that office till 1866, when he was summoned by [[Franz Josef I]] to the Imperial Court of Austria.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

In addition to this he held the ministry of education and public worship from 1849 to 1853, and that of internal affairs in 1853, and in the same year was appointed minister-president. From the time that he entered the ministry he was, however, the leading member of it, and he was chiefly responsible for the events of 1849. By his advice the king rejected the German constitution proclaimed by the [[Frankfurt Parliament]]. This led to revolutionary outbreaks in Dresden. The riots were suppressed after four days of fighting by [[Prussia]]n troops, whose assistance Beust had requested.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

== Affairs of state ==

=== Saxony 1849–1866 ===
On Beust fell also the chief responsibility for governing the country after order was restored, and he was the author of the so-called ''[[coup d'état]]'' of June 1850 by which the new constitution was overthrown. The vigor he showed in repressing all resistance to the government, especially that of the university, and in reorganizing the police, made him one of the most unpopular men among the [[Liberalism|Liberals]], and his name became synonymous with the worst form of reaction, but it is not clear that the attacks on him were justified.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

After this he was chiefly occupied with foreign affairs, and he soon became one of the most conspicuous figures in German politics. He was the leader of that party which hoped to maintain the independence of the smaller states, and was the opponent of all attempts on the part of Prussia to attract them into a separate union. In 1849-1850 he was compelled to bring Saxony into the "three kings' union" of Prussia, [[Kingdom of Hanover|Hanover]] and Saxony, but he was careful to keep open a loophole for withdrawal, of which he speedily availed himself. In the crisis of the [[Erfurt Union]], Saxony was on the side of [[Austria]], and he supported the restoration of the [[Bundesversammlung (German Confederation)|diet]] of the [[German Confederation]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

In 1854 he took part in the [[Bamberg]] conferences, in which the smaller German states claimed the right to direct their own policy independently of Austria or of Prussia, and he was the leading supporter of the idea of the Trias, i.e., that the smaller states should form a closer union among themselves against the preponderance of the great monarchies. In 1863 he came forward as a warm supporter of the claims of the prince of Augustenburg to [[Schleswig-Holstein Question|Schleswig-Holstein]]. He was the leader of the party in the German diet which refused to recognize the settlement of the [[Danish question]] effected in 1852 by the [[London Protocol (1852)|Treaty of London]], and in 1864 he was appointed representative of the diet at the [[London Conference of 1864|peace conference in London]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

He was thus thrown into opposition to the policy of [[Otto von Bismarck|Bismarck]], and he was exposed to violent attacks in the Prussian press as a particularist, i.e., a supporter of the independence of the smaller states. Already in the aftermath of the [[Second Schleswig War]], the expulsion of the Saxon troops from [[Rendsburg]] nearly led to a conflict with Berlin. On the outbreak of the [[Austro-Prussian War]] in 1866, Beust accompanied King [[John, King of Saxony|John of Saxony]] on his escape to [[Prague]], and thence to Vienna, where they were received by allied Emperor Franz Joseph with the news of [[Battle of Königgrätz|Königgrätz]]. Beust undertook a mission to Paris to procure the help of [[Napoleon III]]. When the terms of peace were discussed he resigned, for Bismarck refused to negotiate with him.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

=== Austria 1866–1871 ===
After the victory of Prussia there was no office for Beust in an emerging [[Lesser Germany]], and his public career seemed to be closed, but he quite unexpectedly received an invitation from Franz Joseph to become his [[Foreign Minister of Austria-Hungary|foreign minister]]. It was a bold decision, for Beust was not only a stranger to Austria, but also a [[Protestant]]. He threw himself into his new position with great energy. Despite the opposition of the Slavs who foresaw that "dualism would lead Austria to downfall, negotiations with [[Hungary]] were resumed and rapidly concluded by Beust.<ref name="Albertini 1952 4">{{cite book|last=Albertini|first=Luigi|title=The Origins of the War of 1914, Volume I|publisher= Oxford University Press |year=1952|page=4}}</ref>

<blockquote>
Impatient to take his revenge on Bismarck for [[Battle of Königgrätz|Sadowa]], he persuaded Francis Joseph to accept the Magyar demands which he had till then rejected. [...] Beust deluded himself that he could rebuild both the [Germanic Federation] and the Holy Roman Empire and negotiated the [[Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867|''Ausgleich'']] as a necessary preliminary for the ''revanche'' on Prussia. [...] As a compromise with Hungary for the purposes of ''revanche'' on Prussia, the ''Ausgleich'' could not be otherwise than a surrender to the Magyar oligarchy."<ref name="Albertini 1952 4"/>
</blockquote>

When difficulties came he went himself to [[Budapest]], and acted directly with the Hungarian leaders. Beusts's desired revanche against Prussia did not materialize because, in 1870, the Hungarian Prime Minister [[Gyula Andrássy]] was "vigorously opposed."<ref>{{cite book|last=Albertini|first=Luigi|title=The Origins of the War of 1914, Volume I|publisher= Oxford University Press |year=1952|page=6}}</ref>

In 1867 he also held the position of Austrian minister-president, and he carried through the measures by which [[parliament]]ary government was restored. He also carried on the negotiations with the Pope concerning the repeal of the [[concordat]], and in this matter also did much by a liberal policy to relieve Austria from the pressure of institutions which had checked the development of the country. In 1868, after giving up his post as minister-president, he was appointed [[Chancellor of Austria|Chancellor]] of the empire (''Reichskanzler''),
<ref name=cmh1911xiii>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jJcw3FglvLcC |title=Cambridge Modern History vol xiii 1911 |publisher=Forgotten Books |isbn=9781440099977 |access-date=2012-09-20}}</ref>
and received the title of [[count]]. This was unusual, and he was the only statesman given the title of Chancellor between [[Metternich]] (1848) and [[Karl Renner]] (1918) (see ''Österreich-Lexikon''). His conduct of foreign affairs, especially in the matter of the [[Balkans|Balkan States]] and [[Crete]], successfully maintained the position of the Empire. In 1869, he accompanied the Emperor on his expedition to the East. He was still to some extent influenced by the anti-Prussian feeling he had brought from Saxony.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

He maintained a close understanding with France, and there can be little doubt that he would have welcomed an opportunity in his new position of another struggle with his old rival Bismarck. In 1867, however, he helped to bring the [[Luxembourg Crisis]] to a peaceful termination. In 1870 he did not disguise his sympathy for France. The failure of all attempts to bring about an intervention of the powers, joined to the action of Russia in denouncing the [[Treaty of Frankfurt (1871)|Treaty of Frankfurt]], was the occasion of his celebrated saying that he was nowhere able to find Europe. After the war was over he completely accepted the new organization of Germany.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

As early as December 1870 he had opened a correspondence with Bismarck with a view to establishing a good understanding with Germany. Bismarck accepted his advances with alacrity, and the new ''[[wiktionary:Entente|entente]]'', which Beust announced to the Austro-Hungarian delegations in July 1871, was sealed in August by a friendly meeting of the two old rivals and enemies at [[Gastein]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

In 1871 Beust interfered at the last moment, together with [[Gyula Andrássy|Andrassy]], to prevent the emperor accepting the pro-Czech [[Fundamental Articles of 1871|federalist plans]] of [[Count Karl Sigmund von Hohenwart|Hohenwart]]. He was successful, but at the same time he was dismissed from office. The precise cause for this is not known, and no reason was given him.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

== Later diplomatic career 1871–1882 ==
At his own request he was appointed Austrian ambassador at London; in 1878 he was transferred to Paris; in 1882 he retired from public life.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

== Death ==
He died at his villa at [[Sankt Andrä-Wördern|Altenberg]], near Vienna, on 24 October 1886, leaving two sons, both of whom entered the Austrian diplomatic service. His wife survived him only a few weeks. His elder brother, Friedrich Konstantin von Beust (1806–1891), who was at the head of the Saxon department for mines, was the author of several works on mining and [[geology]], a subject in which other members of the family had distinguished themselves.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

== Posthumous assessment ==
Beust had great social gifts and personal graces; he was proud of his proficiency in the lighter arts of composing [[waltz]]es and ''[[vers de société]]''. It was more vanity than rancor which made him glad to appear even in later years as the great opponent of [[Otto von Bismarck|Bismarck]]. If he cared too much for popularity, and was very sensitive to neglect, the saying attributed to Bismarck, that if his vanity were taken away there would be nothing left, is very unjust. He was apt to look more to the form than the substance, and attached too much importance to the verbal victory of a well-written dispatch; but when the opportunity was given him he showed higher qualities.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

In the crisis of 1849 he displayed considerable courage, and never lost his judgment even in personal danger. If he was defeated in his German policy, it must be remembered that Bismarck held all the good cards, and in 1866 Saxony was the only one of the smaller states which entered on the war with an army properly equipped and ready at the moment. That he was no mere reactionary, the whole course of his government in Saxony, and still more in Austria, shows. His Austrian policy has been much criticized, on the ground that in establishing the system of dualism he gave too much to Hungary, and did not really understand [[multinational state|multinational]] Austrian affairs; and the Austro-Hungarian crisis during the early years of the 20th century has given point to this view. Yet it remains the fact that in a struggle of extraordinary difficulty he carried to a successful conclusion, a policy which, even if it were not the best imaginable, was possibly the best attainable in the circumstances seen from a contemporary perspective during that fatal pre-war crisis.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

== Writings ==
Beust was the author of reminiscences:
*''Aus drei Viertel-Jahrhunderten'' (2 vols, Stuttgart, 1887; English trans. edited by Baron H de Worms)
*He also wrote a shorter work, ''Erinnerungen zu Erinnerungen'' (Leipzig, 1881), in answer to attacks made on him by his former colleague, Herr v. Frieseri, in his reminiscences.
See also Ebeling, ''F. F. Graf v. Beust'' (Leipzig 1876), a full and careful account of his political career, especially up to 1866; ''Diplomatic Sketches: No. 1, Count Beust'', by Outsider (Baron Carl v. Malortie); Flathe, ''Geschichte von Sachsen'', vol. iii. (Gotha, 1877); Friesen, ''Erinnerungen aus meinem Leben'' (Dresden, 1880).

== Famous descendants ==
His most famous descendant is [[Ole von Beust]] (born 13 April 1955, in [[Hamburg]], Germany), who was First Mayor of the city-state of Hamburg from 2001 to 2010, also serving as President of the [[Bundesrat of Germany|Bundesrat]] between 2007 and 2008.

== Honours ==
He received the following orders and decorations:<ref>{{citation|chapter-url=https://alex.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/alex?aid=shb&datum=1886&page=200&size=45|chapter=Ritter-Orden: Militärischer Maria-Theresien Orden|title=Hof- und Staatshandbuch der Österreichisch-Ungarischen Monarchie|date=1886|access-date=14 January 2021|page=[https://alex.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/alex?aid=shb&datum=1886&size=45&page=201 121]}}</ref>
{{columns-list|colwidth=25em|
* {{flagcountry|Austrian Empire}}:<ref>{{citation|chapter-url=https://alex.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/alex?aid=shb&datum=1886&page=198&size=45|chapter=Ritter-Orden|title=Hof- und Staatshandbuch der Österreichisch-Ungarischen Monarchie|date=1886|access-date=14 January 2021|pages=[https://alex.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/alex?aid=shb&datum=1886&page=202&size=45 122], [https://alex.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/alex?aid=shb&datum=1886&size=45&page=207 127]}}</ref>
** Grand Cross of the [[Order of Leopold (Belgium)|Imperial Order of Leopold]], ''1850''
** Grand Cross of the Royal Hungarian [[Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary|Order of St. Stephen]], ''1852''; with Collar, ''1866''
** Chancellor of the [[Military Order of Maria Theresa]]
* {{flagicon|Tuscany|habsburg}} [[Grand Duchy of Tuscany|Tuscany]]: [[Order of Saint Joseph|Grand Cross of St. Joseph]]
* {{flagicon image|State Flag of the Duchy of Modena and Reggio (1830-1859).svg}} [[Duchy of Modena and Reggio|Modena]]: [[Order of the Eagle of Este|Grand Cross of the Eagle of Este]]
* {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Bavaria}}:<ref name="(Germany)1886">{{cite book|author=Bavaria (Germany)|title=Hof- und Staatshandbuch des Königreichs Bayern|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oOlLcty44XEC&pg=PR1|year=1886|pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=oOlLcty44XEC&pg=PA11 11], [https://books.google.com/books?id=oOlLcty44XEC&pg=PA26 26]}}</ref>
** [[Order of Merit of the Bavarian Crown|Grand Cross of Merit of the Bavarian Crown]], ''1851''
** [[Order of Saint Hubert|Knight of St. Hubert]], ''1868''
* {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Saxony}}:
** [[Order of the Rue Crown|Knight of the Rue Crown]], ''1856''<ref>{{cite book|title=Staatshandbuch für den Freistaat Sachsen: 1873|year=1873|publisher=Heinrich|page=[http://opacplus.bsb-muenchen.de/title/9530888/ft/bsb11041169?page=27 5]}}</ref>
** Grand Cross of the [[Civil Order of Saxony|Civil Merit Order]]
* {{flagicon image|Imperial Standard of Mexico (1864-1867).svg}} [[Second Mexican Empire|Mexico]]: [[Mexican Imperial Orders#Imperial Order of the Mexican Eagle|Grand Cross of the Mexican Eagle]]
* {{flagicon image|Flag of the Kingdom of Prussia (1803-1892).svg}} [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]]:
** Knight of Honour of the [[Johanniter Order]], ''18 January 1839''<ref name="prus">{{citation|title=Königlich Preussische Ordensliste|journal=Preussische Ordens-Liste|volume=1|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015049878864&view=1up&seq=5&skin=2021|pages=[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015049878864&view=1up&seq=17&skin=2021 13], [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015049878864&view=1up&seq=997&skin=2021 985]|lang=German|location=Berlin|year=1877|via=hathitrust.org}}</ref>
** [[Order of the Black Eagle|Knight of the Black Eagle]], ''7 September 1871''<ref name="prus"/>
** [[Order of the Red Eagle|Grand Cross of the Red Eagle]]
* {{flagcountry|Russian Empire}}: [[Order of St. Alexander Nevsky|Knight of St. Alexander Nevsky]], in Diamonds
* {{Flagicon image|Flag of France (1794–1815, 1830–1958).svg}} [[Second French Empire|France]]: Grand Cross of the [[Legion of Honour]], in Diamonds
* {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Italy}}:
** [[Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation|Knight of the Annunciation]], ''2 December 1869''<ref name="dell'interno1886">{{cite book|author=Italia : Ministero dell'interno|title=Calendario generale del Regno d'Italia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UPD9-8QT_i8C&pg=PR1|year=1886|publisher=Unione tipografico-editrice|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=UPD9-8QT_i8C&pg=PA48 48]}}</ref>
** [[Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus|Grand Cross of Saints Maurice and Lazarus]]
* {{flag|Ottoman Empire}}:
** [[Order of Osmanieh]], 1st Class in Diamonds
** [[Order of the Medjidie]], 1st Class
* {{flagicon image|Flag of Tunisia (1959–1999).svg}} [[Beylik of Tunis|Tunisia]]: Grand Cordon of the [[Order of Glory (Tunisia)|Order of Glory]]
* {{flagcountry|Restoration (Spain)}}: Grand Cross of the [[Order of Charles III]], ''4 May 1852''<ref>{{citation|chapter-url=http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0000892813&search=&lang=es|chapter=Real y distinguida orden de Carlos III|title=Guía Oficial de España|date=1878|access-date=21 March 2019|page=140|language=es}}</ref>
* {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Portugal}}: [[Order of the Tower and Sword|Grand Cross of the Tower and Sword]], in Diamonds
* {{flagcountry|Empire of Brazil}}: [[Order of the Southern Cross|Grand Cross of the Southern Cross]]
* {{flag|Belgium}}: Grand Cordon of the [[Order of Leopold (Belgium)|Order of Leopold]], ''9 March 1851''<ref>{{citation|chapter-url=https://archives.bruxelles.be/almanach/watch/AR/ALMANACH%20ROYAL%20OFFICIEL_1863_R%20208/ALMANACH%20ROYAL%20OFFICIEL_1863_R%20208#page/36|title=Almanach Royal Officiel|year=1863|chapter=Liste des Membres de l'Ordre de Léopold|lang=french|via=Archives de Bruxelles|page=73}}</ref>
* {{flag|Netherlands}}: [[Order of the Netherlands Lion|Grand Cross of the Netherlands Lion]]
* {{flagicon image|State Flag of Greece (1863-1924 and 1935-1973).svg}} [[Kingdom of Greece|Greece]]: [[Order of the Redeemer|Grand Cross of the Redeemer]]
* {{flag|Württemberg}}: [[Order of the Crown (Württemberg)|Grand Cross of the Württemberg Crown]], ''1871''<ref>{{cite book|title=Staatshandbuch für Württemberg|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cc1CAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR1|year=1887|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=cc1CAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA36 36]}}</ref>
* {{flagicon image|Early 20th Century Qajar Flag.svg}} [[Qajar Iran|Persia]]: [[Order of the Lion and the Sun]], 1st Class with Grand Band
* {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Hanover}}: Grand Cross of the [[Royal Guelphic Order]], ''1851''<ref name="Hannover1865">{{cite book|author=Staat Hannover|title=Hof- und Staatshandbuch für das Königreich Hannover: 1865|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_bAFTAAAAcAAJ|year=1865|publisher=Berenberg|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_bAFTAAAAcAAJ/page/n95/mode/2up 77]}}</ref>
* {{flagicon image|Flagge Großherzogtum Hessen ohne Wappen.svg}} [[Hesse and by Rhine|Hesse-Darmstadt]]: Grand Cross of the [[Ludwig Order]], ''29 November 1871''<ref>''Staatshandbuch für das Großherzogtum Hessen und bei Rhein'' (1879), "Großherzogliche Orden und Ehrenzeichen ", [https://archive.org/details/hofundstaatshan00gergoog/page/n48/mode/2up p. 23].</ref>
* {{flagicon|Hesse}} [[Electorate of Hesse|Hesse-Kassel]]: [[House Order of the Golden Lion (Hesse)|Knight of the Golden Lion]], ''1 October 1857''<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_8vVSAAAAcAAJ |title=Kurfürstlich Hessisches Hof- und Staatshandbuch: 1866 |publisher=Waisenhaus |year=1866 |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_8vVSAAAAcAAJ/page/n35/mode/2up 18]}}</ref>
* {{flag|San Marino}}: Grand Cross of the [[Order of San Marino]]
* {{flagicon|Saxe-Coburg and Gotha}} {{flagicon|Saxe-Altenburg}} {{flagicon|Saxe-Meiningen}} [[Ernestine duchies]]: Grand Cross of the [[Saxe-Ernestine House Order]], ''January 1851''<ref>''Staatshandbücher für das Herzogtums Sachsen-Altenburg'' (1869), "Herzogliche Sachsen-Ernestinischer Hausorden" [https://zs.thulb.uni-jena.de/rsc/viewer/jportal_derivate_00243702/Parladrusa_Staatshandbuch_SA_166810592_1869_0037.tif?logicalDiv=jportal_jparticle_00472815 p. 23]</ref>
* {{flag|Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach}}: [[Order of the White Falcon|Grand Cross of the White Falcon]], ''22 May 1851''<ref>''Staatshandbuch für das Großherzogtum Sachsen / Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach'' (1864), "Großherzogliche Hausorden" [https://zs.thulb.uni-jena.de/rsc/viewer/jportal_derivate_00285409/Staatshandbuch_Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach_1864_0025.tif?logicalDiv=jportal_jpvolume_00095965 p. 15]</ref>
* {{flagicon image|Flag of Siam (1855).svg}} [[Siam]]: [[Order of the Crown of Thailand|Grand Cross of the Crown of Siam]]
}}

== See also ==
* [[List of minister-presidents of Austria]]
* [[List of foreign ministers of Austria-Hungary]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}
;Attribution
{{EB1911|wstitle=Beust, Friedrich Ferdinand von|volume=3 }}

== Sources ==
* Schmitt, Hans A. "Count Beust and Germany, 1866–1870: Reconquest, Realignment, or Resignation?" ''Central European History'' (1968) 1#1 pp.&nbsp;20–34 [https://www.jstor.org/stable/4545476 in JSTOR]
* Sondhaus, Lawrence. "Austria-Hungary's Italian policy under Count Beust, 1866–1871," ''Historian'' (1993) 56#1 pp 41–64, online
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150923180614/http://www.austria-lexikon.at/ebook/wbin/ambrosius.html#book=Lexika/Oesterreich_Lexikon_Band1&pageid=00000168&thumbview=2p&layer=default1&pagenum=170  Österreich-Lexikon: Bundeskanzler]

{{s-start}}
{{succession box|title=[[Chairman of the Ministers' Council for Common Affairs of Austria-Hungary]]|before=[[Count Richard Belcredi|Count Belcredi]]|after=[[Prince Karl of Auersperg]]|years=1867–1871}}
{{succession box|title=[[Chairman of the Ministers' Conference of the Austrian Empire]]|before=[[Count Richard Belcredi|Count Belcredi]]|after=[[Prince Karl of Auersperg]]|years=1867}}
{{succession box|title=[[Foreign Minister of the Austrian Empire]]|before=[[Alexander von Mensdorff-Pouilly, Prince Dietrichstein von Nicolsburg|Count Mensdorff-Pouilly]]|after=[[Gyula Andrássy|Count Andrássy]]|years=1866–1871}}
{{succession box|title=Interior Minister of the Austrian Empire|before=[[Count Richard Belcredi|Count Belcredi]]|after=[[Eduard Taaffe, 11th Viscount Taaffe]]|years=1867}}
{{s-end}}

{{ATEmpirePMs}}
{{Ministers-President of Saxony}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beust, Friedrich Ferdinand von}}
[[Category:1809 births]]
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[[Category:Ambassadors of Austria-Hungary to the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:19th-century minister-presidents of Austria]]
[[Category:Politicians from the Austrian Empire]]
[[Category:19th-century German people]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary]]
[[Category:Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Netherlands Lion]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Medjidie, 1st class]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of Leopold (Austria)]]