He first studied 1690 in Frankfurt an der Oder and then went in 1694 into the Prussian Army in the "Cuirassiers" and was promoted to lieutenant on 5 December 1702. Severely wounded at Höchstädt he had to resign. He then moved in 1704 to join Mecklenburg forces. In 1709 he fought in the Battle of Malplaquet and in 1715 he was involved in the siege of Stralsund, as well as the landing on Rügen.