Alfred Cuno Paridam Freiherr von dem Knesebeck-Milendonck (29 August 1816 – 14.

December 1883) was a soldier, landowner and member of the Prussian House of Representatives and the Reichstag of the North German Confederation for Free Conservative Party.

He attended the Gymnasium zum Grauen Kloster in Berlin before commissioning into the Gardes du Corps in 1834, during which he became closely acquainted with Bismarck and Prince Waldemar of Prussia, with whom he maintained a lifelong friendship.

[1] In 1844 he resigned his regular commission in order to take over the management of the family estates, though he remained in the Landwehr until 1859, reaching the rank of Major.

At the personal request of Crown Prince Frederick William, he was also presented with the first Iron Cross to be awarded for services in the Order of St John.