The work examines the biography of the Protestant theologian Adam Struensee (1708-1791), who is primarily presented in existing research literature as the father of the Enlightenment thinker Johann Friedrich Struensee, but was himself a well-known and controversial figure in the 18th century. This study is considered the first attempt at a comprehensive biographical account. Using methods from contemporary biographical research and based on extensive source material, it not only corrects one-sided evaluations and inadequate representations of Adam Struensee but also sheds new light on central aspects of his life, particularly reconstructing the processes of identity formation. The focus is on the relationship between religion and masculinity. By employing methods from gender studies, the example of Struensee is used to explore what it meant to be male in the 18th century.