Botho zu Eulenburg

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Count Botho zu Eulenburg (July 31, 1831 - November 5, 1912) was a Prussian statesman. As Minister of the Interior under Bismarck he implemented a series of repressive anti-socialist measures in 1878. He was Minister-President of Prussia for a short time in the 1890's, and was the last Minister-President (or 'Prime Minister') to not also hold the office of Imperial Chancellor until Paul Hirsch in 1918. Eulenburg was the brother of Prince Philipp zu Eulenburg, a close friend of Kaiser Wilhelm II, and an instrumental figure behind the scenes of German politics. Appointed to the Prussian minister-presidency upon the recommendation of his predecessor, Count Caprivi, Eulenburg was an experienced administrator, having previously been governor of the Prussian province of Hesse. An avowed reactionary, he soon made life difficult for Caprivi, and often thought of pressing for his removal. Eulenburg was eventually dismissed by Wilhelm II following the renewal of anti-Socialist moves (and an anti-subversion bill) in 1894. Eulenburg often thought of himself as the only possible successor to Caprivi, and he was extremely unhappy to be dismissed at what he regarded as the moment of his destiny.