Franz Kuhn von Kuhnenfeld

During his term, a unified system of conscription for both Cisleithania (Austria proper) and Transleithania (Hungary and Croatia) was introduced, corporal punishment in military service was abolished, and the Franz-Josephinian Land Survey was initiated.

For his successful defence of the southern border of Tyrol, he was awarded the Commander's Cross in the Order of Maria Theresa and on 17 August 1866 he was promoted to lieutenant field marshal.

He served until 14 June 1874, during which time a set of identical Austrian and Hungarian laws were passed which introduced a unified system of conscription[2][3] in both parts of Austria-Hungary, and to finally end corporal punishment in the military.

[4] On the same day as the new Austrian military law came into force on 5 December 1868, Emperor Franz Joseph I awarded Kuhn the Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold.

Drawing on his experience of fighting on the Alpine frontier during the Third Italian War of Independence, Kuhn drew up a plan for a radical reorganisation of the defense of the Trentino and South Tyrol, which he entrusted to the k.u.k.

During his time as a major general in the Tyrol in September 1864, Kuhn noticed a young lieutenant named Julius Payer, who had sketched some maps while on a mountaineering holiday.

[8] After Payer had completed this survey work in autumn 1868, Kuhn released him from service in January 1869, to allow him to participate in the Second German North Polar Expedition (1869–1870), led by Carl Koldewey.

[7] Kuhn was later also a supporter of the Austro-Hungarian North Pole expedition (1872–1874) led by Payer and Karl Weyprecht, which discovered Franz Josef Land.

On 14 July 1874, Kuhn was dismissed by Franz Joseph I from the position of Minister of War and appointed as Commander General of Steiermark, Carinthia, and Carniola.