Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher

thumb|Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher in 1818 Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher (16 December 1742 – 12 September 1819), Graf (count), later elevated to Fürst (prince) von Wahlstatt, was a Prussian Generalfeldmarschall (field marshal). He earned his greatest recognition after leading his army against Napoleon at the Battle of Leipzig in 1813 and the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Attributed May the pens of the diplomats not undo what we have won with the sword! Toast at Wellington's banquet in honour of the surrender of Paris, a few days afterward (July 1815). Reported in Edwin Emerson, A History of the Nineteenth Century Year by Year, vol. 1 (New York: P. F. Collier and Son, 1902), p. 589. Slightly different version in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 14th ed. (1968), p. 469: "May the pens of the diplomats not ruin again what the people have attained with such exertions." What a great city to plunder! F. Bartosek, "Odell in the Character of Bluecher", The New York Times (29 March 1903), p. 27, col. 5: "It is said about the Prussian General, Blücher, that, while visiting the City of London after the battle of Waterloo, he ascended the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral to get a more extended view of the city. While gazing upon the immense and magnificent city spreading at his feet he was supposed to have exclaimed: 'What a great city to plunder!' or something to that effect." External links Author:Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher Category:1742 births Category:1819 deaths Category:Military leaders from Germany Category:Freemasons Category:People of the Napoleonic Wars