Hugo Karel Eduard, 2nd Prince of Salm-Reifferscheidt-Raitz (15 September 1803 â 18 April 1888), was a mediatized German prince who was an industrialist and politician.
Hugo was born on 15 September 1803 in Brno in the Margraviate of Moravia. He was the eldest son of Count Franz Joseph of Salm-Reifferscheidt-Raitz (1776âÂÂ1836), and Countess Maria Josepha McCaffry von Keanmore. Among his siblings was brother Count Robert of Salm-Reifferscheidt-Raitz, who married Countess Felicitas von Clary und Aldringen (a daughter of Carl Joseph, 3rd Prince of Clary-Aldringen). His paternal grandparents were Karl Joseph, 1st Prince of Salm-Reifferscheidt-Raitz and Princess Maria Franziska of Auersperg (a daughter of Karl Josef, 5th Prince of Auersperg and sister of Wilhelm, 6th Prince of Auersperg). After his grandmother's death, his grandfather married Countess Antonia Maria von Paar (a daughter of Prince Wenzel Chrisostumus von Paar and Princess Maria Antonia of Liechtenstein, herself a daughter of Johann Nepomuk Karl, Prince of Liechtenstein). His maternal grandparents were Count Robert McCaffry von Keanmore and Countess Maria Anna von Blümegen.
As his father predeceased his grandfather, upon the latter's death on 16 June 1838, he succeeded as the 2nd Prince of Salm-Reifferscheidt-Raitz. His grandfather had previously succeeded his father as the 2nd Count of Salm-Reifferscheidt-Raitz, before he was elevated to Reichsfürst in 1790. His grandfather's reign over his Imperial Estate as Prince of Salm-Reifferscheidt-Raitz was shortlived, however, as his territory was mediatized in 1811. In 1852, he received the title of Privy Councilor and was a holder of the Order of the Golden Fleece.
Between 1849 and 1864, he was director of the Moravian-Silesian Agricultural Society and oversaw the establishment of a chemical research station for agriculture. He was also the owner of the ironworks in Blansko, the lignite mines in Gaya, and the hard coal mines in Ostrava.
From 1848 to 1849 he was president of the newly established Moravian Diet. In 1861 he was again elected to the Diet and served as Governor of Moravia until 1867. In 1857 he became a member of the permanent Imperial Council, and of the expanded Imperial Council in 1860. In Parliament he represented the positions of the conservative nobility. In 1861 he became a hereditary member of the House of Lords. In 1868 he protested against dualism, which he saw as a violation of the historical individuality of the Margraviate of Moravia.
On 6 September 1830, Hugo was married to Countess Leopoldine Polyxene Christiane of Salm-Reifferscheidt-Krautheim (1805âÂÂ1878), a daughter of Prince Franz Wilhelm of Salm-Reifferscheidt-Krautheim and Princess Franziska Luise of Hohenlohe-Bartenstein (sister of Louis Aloysius, Prince of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Bartenstein). Together, they were the parents of five children:
His wife died on 4 July 1878 in Brühl near Vienna. Prince Hugo died in Vienna, Austria-Hungary, on 18 April 1888. He was buried at Salm Cemetery in Sloup.
Through his eldest son Hugo, he was a grandfather of Countess Maria Leopoldine of Salm-Reifferscheidt-Raitz (who married Count Karol Lanckoroà Âski and Count Marko Heinrich von Bombelles); Hugo Leopold, 4th Prince of Salm-Reifferscheidt-Raitz (1863âÂÂ1903); Countess Elisabeth of Salm-Reifferscheidt-Raitz (who married Count Wladimir Mittrowsky); Count Karl Boromäus of Salm-Reifferscheidt-Raitz (who married Princess Elisabeth of Fürstenberg); and Countess Eleonore of Salm-Reifferscheidt-Raitz (who married Count Albert von Herberstein).
Through his second son Siegfried, he was a grandfather of Count Rudolf of Salm-Reifferscheidt-Raitz (who married Countess Marie von Wallis); Count Erich of Salm-Reifferscheidt-Raitz; Count Robert of Salm-Reifferscheidt-Rait; Countess Augustine of Salm-Reifferscheidt-Raitz; and Countess Leopoldine of Salm-Reifferscheidt-Raitz.