He was made the hero of the hour by King Gustav III who was in desperate need of publicity as he tried to silence domestic opposition with a crushing victory over Russia.

Wachtmeister was born into an aristocratic Swedish family in 1757 and embarked on military life at a young age, receiving a commission as an ensign in 1772.

In 1778 he went abroad to gain experience on campaign, joining the Prussian Army fighting Austria in the War of the Bavarian Succession from 1778 to 1779.

His later battles were mainly fought against Napoleon in Pomerania and against Russia who in 1809 invaded Sweden after a military coup overthrew the current King Gustav IV.

After the battles of Ratan and Sävar during which he retreated his men back to the coast, where they were sheltered by naval guns, he was considered to have not acted with sufficient boldness by his superiors, and was given the option to retire voluntarily to his estates.