Johann Franz von Schönau-Zell

Johann Franz Reichsritter von Schönau-Zell (1619–1656) was the Prince-Bishop of Basel from 1651 to 1656.

[1] He spent his childhood in Waldshut after his father became bailiff of the local forest there.

His father set on a career in the clergy for his younger son.

[1] The boy studied at Porrentruy, the University of Freiburg, Lucerne, and at the Collegium Germanicum in Rome.

[2] Thomas Henrici, auxiliary bishop of Basel on 15 June 1653.