Frederick William, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Frederick William
Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Reign 6 September 1860 – 30 May 1904
Predecessor George
Successor Adolphus Frederick V
Born (1819-10-17)17 October 1819
Neustrelitz
Died 30 May 1904(1904-05-30) (aged 84)
Neustrelitz
Burial 6 June 1904
Mirow, Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Spouse Princess Augusta of Cambridge
Issue Duke Frederick William
Adolphus Frederick V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Full name
Friedrich Wilhelm Karl Georg Ernst Adolf Gustav
House House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Father George, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg
Mother Princess Marie of Hesse-Kassel

Frederick William (17 October 1819 – 30 May 1904) was a German sovereign who ruled over the state of Mecklenburg-Strelitz as Grand Duke from 1860 until his death.

Biography

He was born in Neustrelitz, the son of Grand Duke Georg of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Princess Marie of Hesse-Kassel. He spent his youth in Neustrelitz and later went to study history and jurisprudence in Bonn. After finishing his studies, he went travelling to Italy and Switzerland. He became a Doctor of Civil Law of the University of Oxford.

Friedrich Wilhelm succeeded as Grand Duke on the death of his father on 6 September 1860. During his reign, Mecklenburg-Strelitz became a member first of the North German Confederation and then the German Empire. Friedrich Wilhelm was a large land owner with more than half of the entire grand duchy, his personal property.[1]

On 12 August 1862, Friedrich Wilhelm was made a Knight of the Order of the Garter by Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.[2]

He died at Neustrelitz on 30 May 1904 and was succeeded by his only son, who became Adolf Friedrich V.

Marriage and children

Friedrich Wilhelm was married on 28 June 1843 at Buckingham Palace to his first cousin, Princess Augusta of Cambridge, a member of the British Royal Family and a granddaughter of King George III. The two were also second cousins on their fathers' side. They had two sons:[3]

  • Duke Frederick William of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (born and died in London, 13 January 1845).
  • Duke Adolphus Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1848–1914); succeeded his father as Adolphus Frederick V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

Friedrich Wilhelm and his wife Augusta celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary by distributing 25 Pfennig from the public treasury to every citizen of the grand duchy.[4]

Titles and styles

  • 17 October 1819 – 6 September 1860: His Royal Highness The Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
  • 6 September 1860 – 30 May 1904: His Royal Highness The Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Ancestry

References

  1. ↑ "Wealthiest Grand Duke dead" (PDF). New York Times. 1904-05-31. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
  2. ↑ "The Gentleman's Magazine". F. Jefferies. 1862. p. 350.
  3. ↑ Online Gotha
  4. ↑ "Six Cents to Every Subject". New York Times. 1903-07-05. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
Frederick William, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Cadet branch of the House of Mecklenburg
Born: 17 October 1819 Died: 30 May 1904
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Georg		 Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
1860–1904		 Succeeded by
Adolf Friedrich V
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