Karl Heinrich von Boetticher
# Karl Heinrich von Boetticher

Karl Heinrich von Boetticher (6 January 1833 – 6 March 1907) was a German conservative statesman. He served as the secretary of the Interior (1880–1897), and the vice-chancellor of the German Empire (1881–1897).

## Biography

Born in Stettin in Pomerania, the son of a judge, Boetticher studied law in the University of Würzburg and the University of Berlin. He was governor of Schleswig in 1876. In 1878 he became a member of the Reichstag for the Free Conservative Party. In 1879, he was lieutenant general of the province of Schleswig-Holstein. In 1880 he succeeded Karl von Hofmann as Secretary of the Interior of the German Empire. In 1881, he also became vice chancellor in Bismarck's cabinet. He held both positions until 1897.

As the representative of Chancellor Bismarck, Boetticher introduced numerous social reforms, and the enactment of the invalid and old-age insurance laws in 1889 was due principally to his energy and executive ability.

## Honours

He received the following orders and decorations:

* Kingdom of Prussia:
   * Knight of the Black Eagle, with Collar
   * Grand Commander's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, with Star
   * Landwehr Service Medal, 1st Class
* Duchy of Anhalt: Grand Cross of the Order of Albert the Bear
* Austria-Hungary: Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of Leopold
* Baden: Knight of the Order of Berthold the First, 1884
* Ernestine duchies: Grand Cross of the Saxe-Ernestine House Order
* Grand Duchy of Hesse:
   * Grand Cross of the Merit Order of Philip the Magnanimous, 28 March 1886
   * Grand Cross of the Ludwig Order, 31 May 1889
* Empire of Japan: Grand Cordon of the Rising Sun
* Mecklenburg: Grand Cross of the Wendish Crown, with Golden Crown
* Netherlands: Grand Cross of the Netherlands Lion
* Oldenburg: Grand Cross of the Order of Duke Peter Friedrich Ludwig
