Johann Georg Adam Graf von Starhemberg, since 1765 Fürst von Starhemberg was an Austrian diplomat, minister, chief chamberlain and close confidant of Empress Maria Theresa.

Maria Theresa was ruler of the Habsburg dominions from 1740 until her death in 1780, and the only woman to hold the position suo jure. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Transylvania, Mantua, Milan, Galicia and Lodomeria, the Austrian Netherlands, and Parma. By marriage, she was Duchess of Lorraine, Grand Duchess of Tuscany, and Holy Roman Empress.