Prince Ernest Frederick of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld

Ernst von Hessen-Philippsthal-Barchfeld (28 January 1789, Barchfeld – 19 April 1850, Castle Augustenau in Herleshausen) was a member of the German House of Hesse and a military officer of the Imperial Russian Army.

[1] Ernst von Hesse-Filipsthal-Barchfeld was born on January 28, 1789, in Barchfeld in Thuringia (Germany), as son of Landgrave Adolph (1742-1803) by marriage to Princess Louise of Saxe-Meiningen (1752-1805).

When his homeland was overrun by the French, he fled to Russia and was admitted into Russian service as lieutenant colonel in the 6th Jaeger Regiment on May 29, 1808.

He travelled to Great Britain, where his cousin, Queen Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen, supported him in finding a good craftsman for an artificial leg.

Ernst von Hessen became an Honorary Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Bath and after King William IV died, he was present at the Coronation of Queen Victoria.