In 1860, he was promoted colonel, which demonstrates the evidence of extraordinary confidence in him by King William I of Württemberg, whose illegitimate son he probably was.[3][4] His mother Juliana Kallee Eleonora, née Schuessler, who was born in Stuttgart and died there in 1839, was first married to the steward in the Royal Palace, Christian Wagner, and later married to Gottlieb Kallee, the Court Gardener of the widowed queen.[3] It is recorded that King William I tapped the young Kallee "on the shoulder when he announced his decision that he wanted to become an officer (and not a painter)."[4] This was felt to be an exceptional favour, because "the king did not touch easily someone, even princes could boast only rarely that he had shaken their hand."[4] He married Malvine Majer, and on 18 December 1854 their son Richard Kallee was born, who later became parish priest of Feuerbach.
^Königlich Württembergisches Hof- und Staatshandbuch 1854, p. 51
^ abKallee, Eduard: Aus der politischen Biedermeierzeit. Erinnerungen und Erlebnisse des Generals Eduard Kallee im württembergischen Generalstab, im Kriegsministerium, im diplomatischen Dienst und am Hof König Wilhelms 1. von Württemberg sowie an auswärtigen Höfen. With 2 pictures of the General. Edited and supplemented by Richard Kallee. - [1st edition] - Stuttgart: Kohlhammer, 1921, 60 pages. Prof. Dr. Irmtraud Goetz von Olenhusen: Revolution im Computer - Die Infobox zur Revolution 1848/49Archived 2011-07-19 at the Wayback Machine.
^ abHeinz Krämer: Fertig Feuerbach! Richard Kallee, Pfarrer und Geschichtsforscher. DRW Verlag, Leinfelden-Echterdingen, 2004, ISBN3-87181-016-9.
^ abcPaul Sauer: Reformer auf dem Königsthron: Wilhelm I. von Württemberg, Pages 163 und 595, ISBN3-421-05084-8.