Hosmer appears to referring to Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898), although she spells it Bismark. Bismark appointed as the Chief Minister of Prussia by William I in 1862, orchestrated a series of wars that helped solidify Prussian power and unify the Germanic states. William was crowned Emperor of the German Empire (the Second Reich) in 1871, with von Bismarck named the first Chancellor of the empire. (Steinberg). (Image: “Prince Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck”).