Burchard VIII von Henslen

Burchard VIII, Count von Henslen (1857-1931) was a Braslander politician.

He was born in 1857 as the son of Count Ulrich IX von Henslen and his second wife, Princess Sophie von Fürstenstein-Reichenhall.

Burchard entered politics at the age of twenty, and he went on to become a promising leader inside the Conservative Party. His family name and wealth helped him, but he was also very intelligent and committed to several public causes. When Parliament was permanently dissolved in 1891 by King Frederick IV, he publicly voiced his opposition, but as a loyal monarchist, he did not actively opposed the monarchy.

After the dissolution of Parliament, Burchard settled in the countryside and became a patron of many organisations. The quintessential public man, he presided over countless public initiatives destined to improve agricultural techniques, as well as the living conditions of the peasants. He also pursued religious and scientific endeavors.

In 1896 he married Countess Iris von Lindau. They had five children: Alexandra (1898-1901), Ulrich X von Henslen (born 1899), Elisabeth (born 1900), Johannes von Henslen (born 1902) and Marie Friederike (born 1904).

He died in 1931.