Friedrich Wilhelm, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Encyclopedia
Frederick William, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg, KG
(17 October 1819 – 30 May 1904) was a German sovereign
who ruled over the state of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
from 1860 until his death.
the son of Grand Duke Georg of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
and Princess Marie of Hesse-Kassel
(1796–1880). He spent his youth in Neustrelitz and later went to study history and jurisprudence in Bonn
. After finishing his studies, he went travelling visiting Italy
and Switzerland
. He became Dr. 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 members of firstly the North German Confederation
and then the German Empire
. Friedrich Wilhelm was a large land owner with more than half of the whole Grand Duchy his personal property.
On 12 August 1862 Friedrich Wilhelm was made a Knight of the Order of the Garter
by Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom
.
He died at Neustrelitz on the 30 May 1904 and was succeeded by his only son who became Adolf Friedrich V
.
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.
Friedrich Wilhelm and his wife Augusta celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary by distributing 25 Pfennig
to every citizen of the Grand Duchy from the public treasury.
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
(17 October 1819 – 30 May 1904) was a German sovereign
Sovereign
A sovereign is the supreme lawmaking authority within its jurisdiction.Sovereign may also refer to:*Monarch, the sovereign of a monarchy*Sovereign Bank, banking institution in the United States*Sovereign...
who ruled over the state of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Mecklenburg-Strelitz was a duchy and later grand duchy in northern Germany, consisting of the eastern fifth of the historic Mecklenburg region, roughly corresponding with the present-day Mecklenburg-Strelitz district , and the western exclave of the former Bishopric of Ratzeburg in modern...
from 1860 until his death.
Biography
He was born in NeustrelitzNeustrelitz
Neustrelitz is a town in the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is situated on the shore of the Zierker See in the Mecklenburg Lake District. From 1738 until 1918 it was the capital of the duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz...
the son of Grand Duke Georg of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Georg, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
George, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg ruled the state of Mecklenburg-Strelitz from 1816 until his death.-Early life:...
and Princess Marie of Hesse-Kassel
Princess Marie of Hesse-Kassel
Princess and Landgravine Marie of Hesse-Kassel was the consort of George, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.-Early life:Her Serene Highness Princess and Landgravine Marie of Hesse-Kassel, second daughter of Landgrave Frederick of Hesse-Kassel, and his wife, Princess Caroline of Nassau-Usingen,...
(1796–1880). He spent his youth in Neustrelitz and later went to study history and jurisprudence in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
. After finishing his studies, he went travelling visiting Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. He became Dr. 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 members of firstly the North German Confederation
North German Confederation
The North German Confederation 1866–71, was a federation of 22 independent states of northern Germany. It was formed by a constitution accepted by the member states in 1867 and controlled military and foreign policy. It included the new Reichstag, a parliament elected by universal manhood...
and then the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
. Friedrich Wilhelm was a large land owner with more than half of the whole Grand Duchy his personal property.
On 12 August 1862 Friedrich Wilhelm was made a Knight of the Order of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
by Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
.
He died at Neustrelitz on the 30 May 1904 and was succeeded by his only son who became Adolf Friedrich V
Adolf Friedrich V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Adolphus Frederick V was grand duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz from 1904 to 1914.-Biography:Adolphus Frederick Augustus Victor Ernest Adalbert Gustavus William Wellington of Mecklenburg was born in Neustrelitz the only surviving child of the then Hereditary Grand Duke Frederick William of...
.
Marriage and children
Friedrich Wilhelm was married on 28 June 1843 at Buckingham PalaceBuckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
to his first cousin, Princess Augusta of Cambridge
Augusta of Cambridge
Princess Augusta of Cambridge was a member of the British Royal Family, a granddaughter of George III. She married into the Grand Ducal House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and became the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz....
, a member of the British Royal Family
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
, and a granddaughter of King George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
. (The two were also second cousins on their fathers' side.) They had two sons.
- Friedrich Wilhelm, Hereditary Prince (*/† London, 13.1.1845)
- Duke Adolf FriedrichAdolf Friedrich V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-StrelitzAdolphus Frederick V was grand duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz from 1904 to 1914.-Biography:Adolphus Frederick Augustus Victor Ernest Adalbert Gustavus William Wellington of Mecklenburg was born in Neustrelitz the only surviving child of the then Hereditary Grand Duke Frederick William of...
(1848–1914)
Friedrich Wilhelm and his wife Augusta celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary by distributing 25 Pfennig
Pfennig
The Pfennig , plural Pfennige, is an old German coin or note, which existed from the 9th century until the introduction of the euro in 2002....
to every citizen of the Grand Duchy from the public treasury.
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