Friedrich Gentz, (born May 2, 1764, Breslau, Silesia, Prussia—died June 9, 1832, Vienna, Austria), German political journalist. Strongly influenced by Edmund Burke, he published journals and pamphlets analyzing events from the viewpoint of a conservative liberal and compared the French Revolution unfavorably to the American Revolution. After serving in the Prussian civil service (1785–1803), he moved to Vienna, where he became from 1812 the propagandist and confidential adviser for Klemens, prince von Metternich. He served as secretary-general to the various congresses that convened after Napoleon’s defeat.
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