Honoring the von Trapp
and Whitehead Heritage
Lived in:
See Flag Key below for details
of Hesse
A State of German
Austrian
First Republic of Austria
A State of German
A State of German
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Parents
(1919–1934)
Died in:
Captain August Johann Ritter (Knight) von Trapp
1836–1884 (m. 1876)
Born: Homberg v.d. Hoehe, Grand Duchy of Hesse, an independent country and state of the German Confederation (today Bad Homberg, Germany)
Talent: Accomplished amateur pianist
Career: At 14, he emigrated from Hesse to the Austro-Hungary Empire to join the Austro-Hungarian Imperial Navy; at 30, he was in the 1866 Battle of Lissa under Admiral Tegethoff, later he captained the corvette SMS Saida and SMS Schwarzenberg.
Knighted: In 1874, for heroism at sea and awarded family coat-of-arms.
Background:
The von Trapp family's 1938 story of leaving Austria inspired the musical, The Sound of Music. Visit our project vonTrapp.org to discover the von Trapp musicians, all ten children and the next generation's talent and professions.
**Perhaps it is ironic that the most famous 'Austrian' family, due to geo-politics after WWI, did not have modern day Austrian citizenship; for details see year 1918 in Georg & Agathe. The exception was Rupert, who had an Austrian citizenship to attend medical school prior to WWII and Johanna, later in life, who moved back to Austria.
Confederation*
See Flag Key below for details
*Duchy a part of German Confedertion
of, before WWI:
Kingdom
Kingdom of
1914–1918 WWI:
Born: Zell am See, Austro-Hungarian Empire (today, Austria)
Baroness* Maria Franziska Gobertina von Trapp (1914–2014) / Musical: Louisa
Baron* Werner Gobertus Ritter von Trapp (1915–2007) / Musical: Kurt
Baroness*Hedwig Adolphine Gobertina von Trapp(1917–1972) / Musical: Brigitta
Empire
Citizen of:
Austro-Hungarian Empire
United Kingdom
1707 Acts of Union created The Kingdom of Great Britian, uniting the Kingdoms of England and Scotland. In 1801, Ireland was added, forming the United Kingdom.
Historical Figure - John Whitehead
Photo: Courtesy of von Trapp family
Empire
Grandfather to von Trapp children
Captain August Johann Ritter (Knight) von Trapp (1836-1884)
Austro-Hungarian Imperial Naval Captain
Multi-National: Born in the Grand Duchy of Hesse, an independent country and free state of the German Confederation. He emigrated to the Austrian Empire for a career in the Austrian Imperial Navy, later the Austro-Hungarian Royal War Navy. His ancestor's Trapp, orginated in Steiermark and Tyrol (today Austria), moving to Hesse 200 years earlier during the Counter-Reformation to escape religious persecution for being Lutherans.
Music/Art: Accomplished amateur pianist with the ability to recall & play music from ear
Historic Merits: Under Admiral Tegtehoff's command, August was a Lieutenant on the frigate SMS Schwarzenberg at the 1866 Battle of Lissa; in 1874, he was knighted for saving his crew from a Mediterranean typhoon on the Goèlette SMS Saida.
Naval Service
In the mid 1850’s, at age 14, August Trapp was part of a wave of young men (from the Electorate of Hesse) who signed up for the Austrian Imperial Navy based in the Adriatic Sea. This new career opportunity offered young men from inland a chance for employment and adventure. After 1848, as part of naval improvements, the naval academy was moved from Venice to Trieste and the new ship arsenal to Pola (today Pula, Croatia). The official language of command and study changed from from Italian to German, phasing out dependence on
(1867–1918)
Before WWI:
Born: Pola, Austro-Hungarian Empire (today Pula, Croatia)
Baron* Rupert Georg Gobertus Ritter von Trapp (1911–1992) / Musical: Friedrich
Baroness* Agathe Johanna Gobertina von Trapp (1913–2010) / Musical: Liesl
Lived in, but not citizens**
Kingdom
WWII, in
Austria
Austria has existed in many forms from 927– present. From 1804–1867, it was ruled by the Austrian Empire and then the Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1867–1918. During this time the town Fiume existed, today Rijeka, Croatia. At the end of WWI, the monarchy was dissolved. 1919 the Austrian First Republic was established, which lost vast territories, including their holdings on the Adriatic Coast to the Kingdom of Italy. Italy then lost the areas to Yugoslavia after WWI, later to become Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. 1938-1945 it was annexed by Germany. After WWII, in 1955 modern Austrian Republic was established.
Austrian
(1918–1946)
Empire
Grandmother to von Trapp children
Countess Agathe Gobertina von Breunner (1856–1945)
Austro-Hungarian Nobility
Multi-National: Her international heritage includes the historic Croatian and Hungarian noble families of Széchenyi, Esterházy, Erdődy, Batthyány, Rákóczy, Pálffy, Zrínyi / Zrinska, and Frangepán / Frankopan. They include honored freedom fighters, patrons of the arts, Viceroys of Hungary and Croatia, and personal counsels to the Habsburg Monarchy.
Music/Art: Accomplished amateur pianist, singer & architect
Historic Merits: Part of the Austro-Hungarian Nobility and she played a supporting role at the Whitehead Torpedo Factory as wife to Partner John Whitehead.
Background
Countess Agathe von Breunner was the third child and second daughter of Count August von Breunner Enkevoirth and Agathe Countess Szechenyi. She was born at the family seat, Castle Grafenegg. She was the first in her family to marry outside Eurpean nobility and was instrumental in help to her husband John Whitehead in matters of business correspondence relating to the Whitehead torpedo factory in Fiume (Rijeka, Croatia). In her own right, she was an accomplished musician and amateur artist, architect and designer, playing an active role in the building and design of three residences. As a young widow, after the death of her husband to cancer, she raised her six children of which she lost two too young. John Whitehead Jr. died at age 28 during WWI in an airplane accident and her daughter Agathe Whitehead (half the inspiration of the Foundation) died at the age of 31 of scarlett-fever contracted by caring for her children who where sick. Countess von Breunner's life, lived with dignity, natural charm and an independent spirit, spanned the height of the Habsburg Empire to the last days of WWII.
(1919–1934)
(1776–present)
Grand Duchy of Hesse
An independent country from 1806–1871 and a member state of the German Confederation from 1815–1848. Hesse lost its independence when it joined the German Empire in 1871, but remained a Duchy. It ended in 1918 with the German Revolution. Today, Hesse is a federal state of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Italy
Agathe Gobertina Whitehead (1st wife)
1891–1922 (m. 1911)
Born: Fiume, Austro-Hungarian Empire (after WWI: Fiume, Kingdom
of Italy; after WWII: Rijeka, Yugoslavia; today Rijeka, Croatia)
Talent: Accomplished amateur pianist, violinist & singer
Mother of seven: Rupert Georg Gobertus von Trapp (m. 1st Henriette Lajoie; 2nd Janice Tyre), Agathe Johanna Gobertina von Trapp,Maria Franzika Gobertina von Trapp, Werner Gobertus von Trapp (m. Erika Klambauer), Hedwig Aldophine Gobertina von Trapp, Johanna Karolina Gobertina von Trapp (m. Ernst Florian Winter), and Martina Alice Gobertina von Trapp (m. Jean Dupiere)
Hereditary von Trapp Coat-of-Arms
Awarded to August Ritter von Trapp 1874
Citizen of, after WWI:
Photo: Public Domain
Died during
Austrian Empire
(1861–1946)
Italy
(1815–1848)
United
occupied
Emigrated to:
Lived in, but not citizen:
Born in:
(1804–1867)
Whitehead Torpedo Factory circa 1910
Fiume, Austro-Hungarian Empire (today Rijeka, Croatia)
FREE: Quarterly updates and history trivia
Citizens of,
Emigrated to:
Citizen of:
United States
Photo: Courtesy of von Trapp family
Hedwig Emilie Wepler
1855–1911 (m. 1876)
Born: Obersuhl, Grand Duchy of Hesse, an independent country
and state of the German Confederation (today Obersuhl, Germany)
Talent: Accomplished amateur folk artist & musican
Mother of three: Hedwig 'Hede' Saida von Trapp (m. 1st Robert Lutz, m. 2nd Gustav Wallascheck, m. 3rd Franz Girak), Captain Georg Johannes Ritter (Knight) von Trapp (m. 1st Agathe Gobertina Whitehead - von Trapp children's parents, m. 2nd Maria Augusta Kutschera), and Werner Ritter (Knight) von Trapp (m. Constance 'Connie' O'Mara)
With east
(1867–1918)
Italy
of America
Austria 1st Rep.
of, between WWI & WII:
Austro-Hungarian
United States
of Hesse
(1776–present)
First seven von Trapp Children
(1867–1918)
Countess Agathe Gobertina von Breunner
1856–1945 (m. 1887)
Born: Grafenegg, Austrian Empire (today Grafenegg, Austria)
Talent: Accomplished amateur pianist, singer and architect /designer
WWI: During the Great War, family members including the von Trapps, lived with her in Zell am See, Austria
Mother of six: John Jr. Gobertus Whitehead (m. Suzanne Bechet de Balan), Frank Gobert Whitehead (m. Countess Margarete Braida), Agathe Whitehead (m. Captain Georg von Trapp - von Trapp children's parents), Robert Jr. Whitehead (m. Anne Morton), Mary Whitehead (m. Baron Gino Malfatti) and Joan Whitehead
(1806–1918)
Flag Key
Photo: In book In allen Häfen war Österreich
by Horst F. Meyer & Dieter Winkler
Baron* Captain Georg Johannes Ritter (Knight) von Trapp
1880–1947 (m. 1911)
Born: Zara, Austro-Hungarian Empire (after WWI: Zara, Kingdom
of Italy; after WWII: Zadar, Yugoslavia; today Zadar, Croatia)
Talent: Accomplished amateur violinist, guitarist, singer & accordionist
Career: Submarine Captain in Austro-Hungarian Imperial Navy (20 yrs); 1915 Awarded Military Order of Maria Theresa, earning Baron title (1924 officially registered); 1920-1930 founded two maritime companies; author & lecturer of his 1935 WWI memoir; 1947, established Trapp Family Austrian Relief, Inc.
Marriages: m. 1st Agathe Gobertina Whitehead seven children (see right); five years after Agathe's passing, m. 2nd wife Maria Augusta Kutschera, had three children Rosmarie von Trapp, Eleonore von Trapp & Johannes von Trapp
Empire
Austro-Hungarian
Born in:
(1804–1867)
(1804-1867)
Italian officers. August entered the naval academy at Trieste. His schooling was on wooden sailing ships (frigates, corvettes and schooners) of the Imperial Navy plying the Mediterranean in defence of the Empire’s Adriatic coastline. He graduated Cadet 2. Class, moving through the ranks from Cadet 1. Class, Officer Cadet (Linienschiffsfaehnrich), Frigate Lieutenant (Fregattenleutnant), Officer Lieutenant (Linienschiffsleutnant) to Corvette Captain (Korvettenkapitaen) by 1866. From 1864-1866, August was Commandant of the Goèlette SMS Saida, an impressive schooner with state of the art rigging and sails. With her imposing presence she was considered the pride of the Austrian navy. Under his command she patrolled the Mediteranean. 1864 was also the year that Archduke Ferdinand Maximillian became Emperor of Mexico and sailed to South America. With this, the Navy lost its strongest advocate and planned improvements were interrupted. On July 20, 1866, under Admiral William Tegethoff command, August took part in the four-hour fierce wooden frigate ship-to-ship battle at the Battle of Lissa between the Kingdom of Italy and Austrian Empire. The Austrians were victorious and August was awarded the Military Merit Cross II for his bravery. A year later, the navy became the Austro-Hungarian Navy after the formation of the Dual Monarchy. In 1874, August was knighted and awarded the hereditary title "Ritter von" (Knight) with a Coat-of-Arms as the result of saving his 73 person-crew during a deadly Mediterranean typhoon while commanding the SMS Saida near the Sicilian coast. The typhoon had destroyed 20 other ships with a heavy death-toll. Tragically, ten years later, August died of typhoid fever leaving behind his young family.
of America
(1801–present)
Austrian Empire
(1776-present)
after WWII:
(1861–1946)
(1867–1918)
Austro-Hungarian
Grand Duchy
Three von Trapp children with Georg's second wife Maria Augusta Kutschera: Baroness* Rosmarie von Trapp (b. 1929), Baroness* Eleonore von Trapp (b. 1931) and Baron* Johannes von Trapp (b. 1939). For information on all ten von Trapp children, visit vonTrapp.org.
Photo: ©Georg & Agathe Foundation
Nationalities:
Lived in & citizens of,
(1919–1934)
(1804–1867)
Countess Agathe Gobertina von Breunner
with Archduke/Erzherzog Franz Ferdinand
1884 Ottensheim, Austro-Hungarian Empire
Paternal Grandparents
Born in:
Austria
Adriatic Coast
of Austra
Born in:
Grand Duchy
Kingdom of Italy
with east Adriatic Coast
Kingdom of Italy was created in 1861. After WWI, a large part of the east Adriatic coast was annexed to the Kingdom, from post Austro-Hungarian empire. After WWII, these annexed lands became part of Yugoslavia, today they encompass Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
von Trapp Italian citizenship
Georg was born in Zara, Dalmatia (E. Adriatic coast), under the Austro-Hungarian empire. When Dalmatia was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy, after WWI, the family was given Italian citizenship. After WWII, it was a part of Yugoslavia, today it is Croatia.
Kingdom of
United States of America
1776 Declaration of Independence formed the United States, formally seceding from Great Britian.
Died in:
Austro-Hungarian
Grandfather to von Trapp children
John Whitehead, Austro-Hungarian Ritter (Knight) (1854-1902)
Engineer, Assisted with Invention of Torpedo
Multi-National: A citizen of the United Kingdom, but born in Fiume, Austro-Hungarian Empire (today Rijeka, Croatia), he became known as "John Whitehead of Fuime".
Music/Art: Accurate technical engineering drawings and carved wood as a hobby
Historic Merits: Engineer and assisted his father, Robert Whitehead, with invention of the first self-propelled torpedo; Fuime's Ambassador to Argentina.
Engineer
In 1854, John Whitehead was born to Robert Whitehead and Marie Johnson in Trieste, a port city of the Austrian Empire (today Trieste, Italy). His father then relocated to Fiume, an up and coming free port on the Adriatic Sea, under the Austrian Empire (today Rijeka, Croatia). Already at age 4, John could be found on the shop floor of Stabilmento Tecnico di Fiume where his father was Chief Engineer. At age 12, with his keen inherted engineering talent, he helped his father British engineer Robert Whitehead, their trusted mechanic Annibale Plöch, and day labourer Mr. Gonza, develop the first prototype of a self-propelled, underwater torpedo. He went on to study at Zurich Hochschule and graduated 1878 from the University of Leipzig with a degree in engineering. Later, his father made him Partner at their Whitehead Torpedo Factory in Fiume (today Rijeka, Croatia), together with Robert's son-in-law Count Georg Hoyos (m. to Alice Whitehead). In 1883, John Whitehead became Consul to the Republic of Argentina to Fiume. In 1887, he was awarded an Imperial Austrian Knighthood from the Franz Joseph Order. Tragically, after a 2 year valliant battle with cancer he passed away in Vienna, on April 9, 1902 at the age of 47 years, leaving behind his young family.
(1806–1918)
See Flag Key below for details
Austria
(1804–1867)
of Hesse
Died in:
Historical Figure - Captain August Johann Ritter von Trapp
Confederation*
United States
Empire
Grand Duchy
(1919–1934)
Kingdom of
Maternal Grandparents
See Flag Key below for details
(1815–1848)
First Republic
Georg & Agathe FOUNDATION
Photo: ©Georg & Agathe Foundation
(1867-1918)
Died in:
John Whitehead, Austro-Hungarian Ritter (Knight)
1854–1902 (m. 1887)
Born: Trieste, Austro-Hungarian Empire (today Trieste, Italy)
Talent: Engineer, draftmans, and woodcarver
Career: A talented engineer, at 12 he assisted his father, Robert Whitehead, with inventing the self-propelled torpedo; he was educated at the Zurich Hochschule in Switzerland and received a degree in engineering from the University of Leipzig, Germany; later he became a partner of the Whitehead Torpedo Factory, in then Fuime, Astro-Hungary, today Rijeka, Croatia; order of merit Imperial Austrian Knighthood of the Franz Joseph Order.
After WWI - end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire:
Born: Zell am See, Austria:
Baroness* Johanna Karolina Gobertina von Trapp (1919–1994) / Musical: Marta
Born: Klosterneuburg, Austria:
Baroness* Martina Alice Gobertina von Trapp (1921–1951) / Musical: Gretl
Kingdom
Empire
FAMILY TREE: Children / Parents / Grandparents
Photo: Courtesy of von Trapp family
Citizen of, before WWI:
Honoring Baron Captain Georg von Trapp, Agathe Gobertina Whitehead, their heritage, and children
Austrian
First Republic of Austria
Austro-Hungary
(1815–1848)
(1867–1918)
United
(1867–1918)
(1801–present)
Photo: ©Georg & Agathe Foundation
Photo: ©Georg & Agathe Foundation
Empire
(1801–present)
Confederation
First Republic
Empire
(1867–1918)
Born in:
(1806–1918)
(1861–1946)
Austro-Hungarian
Lived in & citizens
(1919–1934)
Austro-Hungarian
United
Historical Figure - Countess Agathe Gobertina von Breunner
after WWI**:
Photo: Courtesy of von Trapp family
Empire
Died in, but not citizen: