Hans Carstein

Hans Carstein (1796 - 1838) was a German conservative politician and military officer, most commonly known for his involvement in the Donnersmarck Plot, for which he was executed in 1838.

Early life
Little is known about Hans Carstein's early life. He was born in 1796 to a Catholic family of North German heritage in Berlin. At the age of 19, he was one of the officers that fought in the Battle of Ligny in 1815 and one of the survivors who were not captured. After the Napoleonic Wars, Carstein decided to pursue a career in politics as a conserative.

Political career
In 1835, Hans Carstein was appointed by the King as Konteradmiral in the Prussian navy. That same year, he was elected to the Prussian Landtag as a member of the Conservative Faction. He gained enough control within the faction to become its leader. Through the faction, he established contacts with Ludwig Henckel von Donnersmarck and became involved in his plot to instigate a war with Denmark. However, as the plot was discovered in 1838, Hans Carstein was courtmartialled and executed, marking an end to both his life and his political career.