Kleist was born on the family's manor Gut Schmenzin at Schmenzin (Smęcino) near Köslin (now Koszalin, Poland) in Pomerania.
It belonged to the government region (Regierungsbezirk) Cöslin (later Köslin) in the Prussian province of Pomerania, and comprised rural regions as well as the towns of Colberg and Cörlin.
Clausius was born in Köslin (now Koszalin in Poland) in the Province of Pomerania in Prussia.