Caroline von Schimmelmann

Her parentage is unknown, but she was the foster daughter of Heinrich Ernst von Gersdorfs in Dresden, and given a good education by him.

The masquerade balls hosted by the Schimmelmann couple in their palace in Copenhagen belonged to the foremost centers of Danish society life in the 1760s, and these balls were later blamed to have encouraged queen Caroline Matilda's adultery with Struensee: the couple were also noted to have behaved suspiciously at them.

Described as an intelligent and kind character, who managed her household and the upbringing of her children with good economic sense, she was also regarded as an attractive woman who looked much younger than her years, and had herself the major Seneca Otto Falkenskjold for a lover.

After his death in 1782, Caroline von Schimmelmann retired as society hostess and spent the rest of her life moving about between the homes of her children.

In 1774–75, her son Ernst Schimmelmann belonged to the conspirators around Nathaniel William Wraxall, who planned to install queen Caroline Matilda as regent of Denmark.