Ancestry

Pestel was born at Münster on 18 May 1821, a grandson of the Prussian Chamber Councillor Christoph Heinrich von Pestel (1736–1794), whose appointment as director of the County of Mark′s War and Domain Chamber in 1787 elevated the family to the status of nobility. Eduard von Pestel′s father was the government councilor Georg von Pestel (1783–1846), and his mother was Sabine Melusine Wilhelmine Magdalene Christiane, born Countess of Hardenberg (1781–1850).

Military career

After joining the Prussian Army as an officer candidate, Pestel first passed the Portepee Ensign examination. He joined the 11th Hussar Regiment as an ensign in 1838. In 1849 he participed in the Second Schleswig War. He was promoted to rittmeister in 1856. In 1866 he took part in the Austro-Prussian War and became a staff officer in the 7th Westphalian Dragoon Regiment. In 1869 he took command of the 7th Uhlan Regiment.

The 7th Uhlan Regiment was stationed in Saarbrücken at the beginning of the Franco-Prussian War on 19 July 1870. A week later, on 26 July 1870, Pestel was promoted from major to Oberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel). In overall command of a combined force only 900 men of his regiment and the 40th Regiment of the Prussian 16th Division and without artillery support, he succeeded with the active participation of the city population in presenting the appearance of a secure defensive position that discouraged his 20,000-strong French opponent from attempting to take Saarbrücken for 14 days. After the French did take the city on 2 August 1870, they quickly retreated, sparing the civilian population from pillage. Pestel gained local fame for his defense of Saarbrücken and was given the popular title "Hero of Saarbrücken". As a thank you, he was made an honorary citizen of Saarbrücken in 1896.

On 6 September 1870, Pestel and his 7th Uhlan Regiment redeployed to Metz to take part in the ongoing Siege of Metz. On 27 November 1870, he participated in the Battle of Amiens near Amiens, France, seeing action near Longpré-les-Corps-Saints. The Franco-Prussian War ended in January 1871.

Pestel received a promotion to oberst (colonel) on 18 August 1871. In 1874 he relinquished command of the 7th Uhlan Regiment and was transferred to Wiesbaden. After completing his tour of duty there, he retired and was placed on the reserve list. While retired in reserve, he was promoted to generalleutnant (lieutenant general) in 1890.

Personal life

Von Pestel married Julie Eichhorn in July 1862. The couple had a son and three daughters. He was a member of the Düsseldorf Masonic Lodge "Zu den drei Verbündeten" ("To the three allies").

Death

Von Pestel died at Wiesbaden on 24 March 1908. His grave is in the Ehrental military cemetery in Saarbrücken, today part of the German-French Garden.

Bibliography

• Rolf Straubel, Biographisches Handbuch der preußischen Verwaltungs- und Justizbeamten 1740–1806/15 in Historische Kommission zu Berlin (Hrsg.): Einzelveröffentlichungen. 85. K. G. Saur Verlag, München 2009, ISBN 978-3-598-23229-9, p. 724] (in German)
• Geschichte des 2. Westfälischen-Husaren-Regiments Nr. 11 und seiner Stammtruppen, Part 3, p. 372 (in German)