STRUENSEE, strOO'hi-zn, JOHANN FRIEDRICH VON, Count (1737-72). A Danish statesman, born August 5, 1737, at Halle. Saxony. He studied medicine, became the physician of King Christian Vii. (q.v.) of Denmark (1768), and rose to the highest favor. In 1771 he was made Minister of State with unusual powers. Since the Revolution of 1660 Denmark had been under the domination of the nobility, who as a council of State governed the country. Struensce dis solved the council, and proclaimed the estab lishment of the ancient royal power. These measures amounted in reality to a revolution, and to a declaration of war against the aristoc racy. The Queen and Struensee, in whose hands the whole power now was, chose new ministers, and excluded the feeble Christian entirely from the management of affairs. In opposition to the policy of his predecessors, Struensee en deavored to free Denmark from Russian in fluence, and to find a natural ally in Swe den. He put the finances in order, reduced the expenditure, freed industry and trade, en couraged education, mitigated the penal laws, and brought order into the administration. Serf dom was partially abolished. The haste with which this revolutionary course was pursued pro duced a reaction, while the clergy were aroused by Struensee's outspoken skepticism. The Queen and Struensec were accused of criminal relations and the King was prevailed upon, apparently against his will, to sign warrants for the arrest of Struensee. The Minister was accused of hav
ing conspired against the person and throne of the King, and of being the lover of the Queen. He was sentenced to death and executed April 28, 1772. Queen Carolina Matilda left Denmark in May, 1772. and died in 1775 in the castle of Celle in Hanover. Consult Struensee et in corer de Copenhague—memoires de Rererdil (Paris, 1858).
STRtMPELL, SITOM'pel, LUDWIG ( 1812-99) . A German philosopher, born at SchOppenstedt. He studied philosophy at Konigsberg, where he was influenced by Hcrbart, and continued his studies at Leipzig. in 1845 he became professor of philosophy at Dorpat, and after 1872 he held a similar position at the University of Leipzig. He became known as a prominent representative of Herbert's philosophy and published Erlaute rungen zu Herbal-Is Philosophic (1834), Die Hauptpunkte der Ilerbartschcn .11etapleysil• kri tisch belcuchtet (1840), acchtii ken abet. Religion end religiose "'raider (1888), Ab hundlinigen zur GeRchichte der Netaphysik, Psy chologie und Religionsphilogophie (1896). and Vermischte A bhandlenyce aus der thcoreasehen end praktischen Philosophic (1897).