Claes von Cederström

Claes Cederström’s father was the Swedish baron, lieutenant general, and inspector of the cavalry Bror Cederström. Claes passed the maturity exam in 1882 and joined Crown Prince’s Hussar Regiment as a volunteer. He graduated from the military school in 1884 and returned to his regiment as a second lieutenant. Promoted to lieutenant, he was an instructor at the riding school at Strömsholm from 1895-99. In 1897, Cederström was transferred to the Life Guards on Horseback but remained at the riding school as equerry until 1904, eventually in the rank of a captain.

A major since 1910, was head of the Scanian Hussar Regiment detachment in Uppsala. In the following years, Cederström first became a major and later lieutenant colonel at hussar regiment. From 1916-24 he was colonel and commander of the Scanian Hussar Regiment. He was then discharged and became a reserve officer. Cederström inherited the title of a baron. He became a Commander of the Order of the Sword and of the Order of Vasa in Sweden, knight of orders from Norway, Denmark, and Prussia, and received additional high distinctions from Egypt and Austria.

In his younger years, he was considered one of the best but also most daring Swedish race riders. Cederström became chairman of the Skåne Field Riding Club and a judge in international competitions. At Olympic Games he was a judge in dressage in 1912 and 1936.

In 1900, Cederström married Baroness Märta Charlotta Henrietta von Blixen-Finecke, a sister of Hans von Blixen-Finecke, Sr. They had three sons and three daughters.