Franz von Neumann the Elder

He was born in Freudenthal, Austrian Silesia to master weaver Josef Neumann and his wife Johanna Zapf, though nothing is known about his education or when he moved to Vienna, where he became a draughtsman for master-builder Adolf Korompay.

In 1837 he joined the Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien architecture course, but he left early two years later to become assistant to Karl Schleps, a court architect to the Dukes of Coburg.

From 1862 until his death, Neumann was a liberal representative in the Vienna City Council for the 8th district and was a member of important committees there.

He was commissioned to design the Ducal Museum Gotha in 1864 but was eventually dismissed in 1877 due to repeatedly exceeding the construction costs, though in 1876 he was still awarded the Knight's Cross 1st Class of the Saxe-Ernestine House Order.

The dismissal did not damage his reputation in Vienna and in 1881 he was awarded the Order of the Iron Crown 3rd class and knighted.