In 1742 he started his service in the army of the Electorate of Saxony[2] where he became holder of a regiment in 1744 that he commanded until 1746 on his own. He fought at the Battle of Hohenfriedberg. He became major general in 1746 and established his headquarter in Naumburg. In 1748 he obtained the Polish Order of the White Eagle and joined the Masonic lodge »Zu den drei Hammern« as »Chevalier de la Truelle d'Or« Master Masons in Naumburg.[3] Johann Adolf became Saxon lieutenant general in 1753.
During The Seven Years' War he was captured by the Prussian Army near Altenburg in 1756. He has been released once he has sworn not to fight the Prussians further. Later, the Prussian Army tried to absorb his regiment.[4]
Johann Adolf retired to Eisenberg where he had the house Markt 25 built in 1750. In 1756 he had built Schloss Friedrichstanneck nearby. After Prince Joseph of Saxe-Hildburghausen died in 1787 he became Elder of the Ernestine line of the House of Wettin, a position already hold by his older brother Frederick III until his death in 1772. Because of this position he obtained Oldisleben territory. Daniel Collenbusch became his personal physician in 1788. After Johann Adolf died in 1799 Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld became Elder of Ernestine Wettin and received the Oldisleben territory. Johann Adolf is buried at the chapel of Christiansburg Castle in Eisenberg.
Friedrich Adolph (14 March 1760 – 17 March 1760) died in infancy.
Johanna Adolfine Friederike (13 March 1761 – 15 September 1804) never married or had children.
Adolph Christian Carl (9 January 1765 – 30 March 1835) never married and had no issue.
Marie Maximiliane Elisabeth Schauer was ennobled together with her two surviving children on 12 January 1779 by Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor with the surname “von Gothart” at the instigation of Johann Adolf .[8]
Ancestors
Ancestors of Johann Adolf of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg[9]
^Knöfel, A.-S.: Dynastie und Prestige : Die Heiratspolitik der Wettiner. Köln u.a. : Böhlau, 2009, p. 358. (digital copy)
^Weise, O.: Einige Mitteilungen über Prinz Johann Adolf von Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg. In: Mitteilungen des Geschichts- und Altertumsforschenden Vereins zu Eisenberg, Heft 24(1906), p. 276. (digital copy)
^Franz Fischer (1906), "Über die Inschriften und Denkmäler Eisenbergs", Mitteilungen des Geschichts- und Altertumsforschenden Vereins zu Eisenberg (in German), no. 21, Eisenberg, p. 40(Digitalisat)
^Adelsstand mit der Bewilligung ihren bisher geführten Geschlechtsnamen Schaur abzulegen und "von Gothart" zu nennen. Reichsadelsakten Österreichisches Staatsarchiv (AT-OeStA/AVA Adel RAA 150.29)
Johann Samuel Ersch: Allgemeine Encyclopädie der Wissenschaften und Künste, Zweite Sektion, 21. Teil, Leipzig, 1842, p. 240 (digital copy)
Ranft, Michael: Die Politische Historie von Thüringen, Meißen und Sachsen, welche der sächsische Patriot aus den bewährtesten Nachrichten in XI Stücken der studirenden Jugend in möglichster Kürze aufrichtig erzehlet, Band 10, Leipzig : Holle, 1772, p. 181f. (digital copy)
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