Jakob Amschel (1783-1845) was an Austrian soldier who served in Austria's 3rd Infantry Regiment during the Napoleonic Wars.
Biography[]
Jakob Amschel was born on August 21st, 1783, in the Styrian capital of Graz. His father, Michael, was a master leatherworker who passed down the family saddlery trade. By the time Jakob reached adulthood, he was already an accomplished saddler with clients among local military supply contractors.
At the outbreak of the War of the Third Coalition in 1805, Jakob enlisted in the 3rd Infantry Regiment "Erzherzog Karl". His first taste of combat came during the retreat from Bavaria following the Austrian collapse at Ulm. In 1809, he distinguished himself at Aspern-Essling by maintaining order among panicking lines under artillery fire, earning promotion to Zugsführer. He later fought at Wagram, where his company suffered heavy casualties.
In 1813, during the War of the Sixth Coalition, Jakob served in the regiment’s center company during the massive Battle of Leipzig. He was lightly wounded by shrapnel during the fighting near the Pleisse River but returned to duty shortly afterward.
Discharged honorably in 1815, Jakob settled in Judenburg, where he resumed his saddlery and opened a small workshop. His reputation for craftsmanship brought steady commissions from both civilians and local militia. He married in 1816, raised four children, and remained involved in veterans’ events until his death on November 3, 1845, due to chronic lung complications linked to battlefield exposure.