Leopold Karel, Count of Limburg Stirum

Leopold Count van Limburg Stirum (March 12, 1758 in Hoogeveen – June 25, 1840 in The Hague) was a politician who was part of the Triumvirate that took power in 1813 in order to re-establish the monarchy in the Netherlands.

In this temporary government, count Leopold was Minister of War and thus responsible for preventing anarchy and also making sure the Netherlands wouldn't be annexed to Prussia or England.

On November 30, 1813 Limburg Stirum welcomed the prince on the beach of Scheveningen and on December 6 the provisional government offered him the title of King.

He confirmed count Leopold as governor of The Hague and named him lieutenant general.

On the 8th of July 1815, Leopold van Limburg Stirum was named Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Netherlands Lion, a title reserved for members of the Royal Family, foreign Heads of State and a select group of former prime ministers, Princes and Cardinals.