Years of service 1737–79 Rank Lieutenant general Service/branch Prussian Army | Name Wilhelm von Commands held Belling Hussars Allegiance Prussia | |
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Born 15 February 1719
Paulsdorf, East Prussia ( 1719-02-15 ) Battles/wars War of the Austrian Succession
Battle of Mollwitz
Battle of Hohenfriedberg
Siege of Prague (1742)
Battle of Kesselsdorf
Seven Years' War
Battle of Neuensund
Battle of Neukalen
Battle of Freiberg
War of the Bavarian Succession Died November 28, 1779, Slupsk, Poland Awards Pour le Merite, Order of the Black Eagle | ||
Wilhelm Sebastian von Belling (15 February 1719 – 28 November 1779) was a Prussian Hussar general under Frederick the Great.
Biography
Belling was born in Paulsdorf, East Prussia (modern Pawlowo, Poland) to Lieutenant Colonel Johann Abraham von Belling and Katharina nee von Kospoth. He was the grandson of general Johann Georg von Belling.
Belling was educated as a cadet and joined the Prussian Army in 1737. Because of his small body size he was deployed at Kolberg for garrison service only. In 1739 he joined the Prussian Hussars and was removed to the Zieten Hussars in 1741. Throughout the War of the Austrian Succession he fought at the battles of Mollwitz, Hohenfriedberg, Prague and Kesselsdorf.
Belling was awarded the Pour le Merite in 1757 for his actions in the Seven Years' War. In 1758 he became commander of a newly founded regiment of hussars under Prince Henry of Prussia, the Belling-Hussars. The Belling-Hussars chose "Vincere aut mori" (Victory or death) as their motto and decorated their hats with a depiction of a complete skeleton, a scythe and an hourglass; thus the Belling-Hussars were known as "the whole death" (der ganze Tod).
In the Pomeranian War, on 29 August 1760, the Belling-Hussars captured Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher and Belling, distantly related to Blucher, managed to persuade him to join the Prussian Hussars. In 1761 Belling, commanding a troop of about 5,000 men, successfully delayed the advance of a Swedish Corps of 15,000 men from Swedish Pomerania and their cooperation with the Russian forces in Farther Pomerania.
In 1776 he was promoted to Lieutenant General and was awarded the Order of the Black Eagle for his role in the War of the Bavarian Succession in 1778.
Belling died in service at his regiment's garrison in Stolp (modern Slupsk, Poland).
Belling was married to Katharine Elisabeth von Grabow, they had one daughter. He is described as a religious and devout Christian, whose evening prayers in times of peace ended:
Thou seest, dear Heavenly Father, the sad plight of thy servant Belling. Grant him soon a nice little war that he may better his condition and continue to praise thy name. Amen