- Duke John Albert of Mecklenburg
-
Duke John Albert 
Spouse Princess Elisabeth Sybille of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
Princess Elisabeth of Stolberg-RosslaHouse House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Father Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Mother Princess Augusta of Reuss-Köstritz Born 8 December 1857
Schwerin, Mecklenburg-SchwerinDied 20 February 1920 (aged 62)
Schloß Wiligard near Lübstorf, GermanyReligion Lutheranism Duke John Albert of Mecklenburg (German: Herzog Johann Albrecht zu Mecklenburg; given names John Albert Ernest Constantine Frederick Henry; 8 December 1857 – 16 February 1920)[1] was a member of the House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin who served as the regent of two states of the German Empire. Firstly from 1897 to 1901 he was regent of Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin for his nephew Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg, and from 1907 to 1913 he was Regent of the Duchy of Brunswick.
Contents
Birth and interests
Duke John Albert of Mecklenburg was born in Schwerin the fifth child of Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg and his first wife Princess Augusta of Reuss-Köstritz (1822–1862). Duke John Albert pursued a career in the Prussian Army and was well known for his love of sports.[2] He also developed an interest in Germany's colonial empire, co-founding the Pan-German League and becoming president of the German Colonial Society in 1895.[3]
Regencies
Duke John Albert of Mecklenburg, regent of the Duchy of Brunswick, during a visit to Susuhunan Pakubuwono X of Surakarta. Dutch East Indies, 1910.
Following the death of his brother Frederick Francis III, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg on 10 April 1897, Duke John Albert was appointed regent for his young nephew the new Grand Duke, Frederick Francis IV after his older brother Duke Paul Friedrich had renounced his claim to the regency. He ruled as regent until his nephew came of age on the 9 April 1901 when he assumed personal control of the Grand Duchy.[4]
On 28 May 1907 Duke John Albert was elected regent of the Duchy of Brunswick following the death of Prince Albert of Prussia by the state's diet, accepting the offer he arrived in Brunswick on 5 June 1907.[5] The reason for the regency in Brunswick was that in 1884 when William, Duke of Brunswick died his distant cousin and heir Ernest Augustus, Crown Prince of Hanover was prevented from taking over the duchy because he refused to renounce his claim to the throne of the Kingdom of Hanover which had been annexed by Prussia in 1866.[6]
Shortly after assuming the regency Duke John Albert would walk Brunswick in civilian clothes visiting museums, libraries and other institutions in the duchy, asking questions of people to discover there living conditions. After he became to well known to walk unnoticed he established a weekly audience where people could go and present a petition to him. Duke John Albert also cut down on the expenses of the royal household by cutting the number of servants and retainers to the minimum needed to run the household.[7]
The regency came to an end on 1 November 1913 when Ernest Augustus, Crown Prince of Hanover's son Ernest Augustus was permitted to ascend to Duchy following his marriage to Princess Victoria Louise of Prussia the only daughter of the German Emperor William II which helped heal the rift between the houses of Hanover and Hohenzollern.[8]
War years
During the First World War Duke John Albert was active with the German Colonial Society in defending the Germany's colonial possessions from suggestions that they should be abandoned.[9] On 2 September 1917 he was appointed honorary chairman of the pro war Fatherland Party.[10]
Duke John Albert died in Wiligard castle near Lübstorf aged 62.
Marriages
John Albert was married twice firstly in Weimar on 6 November 1886 to Princess Elisabeth Sybille of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (1854–1908) the daughter of Charles Alexander, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. He was married secondly in Brunswick on the 15 December 1909 to Princess Elisabeth of Stolberg-Rossla (1885–1969), who would following his death marry his half brother Duke Adolf Friedrich in 1924. Both of John Albert's marriages were childless.[1]
Ojimukoka
Ojimukoka, a small settlement, postoffice and railway station in Namibia, was renamed Johann - Albrechtshöhe, and then simply Albrechts in his honour.[11]
Title, style and honours
Title and style
- His Highness Duke John Albert of Mecklenburg
Honours
- Order of the Black Eagle,
- Order of St. Andrew,
- Order of the Elephant,
- Order of St. Hubert (Bavaria)
- Order of Crancelin (Saxony)
- Royal Order of the Seraphim
- Order of St John
Ancestry
Ancestors of Duke John Albert of Mecklenburg 16. Frederick Francis I, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 8. Frederick Louis, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 17. Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg 4. Paul Frederick, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 18. Paul I of Russia 9. Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna of Russia 19. Duchess Sophie Dorothea of Wurttemberg 2. Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 20. Frederick William II of Prussia 10. Frederick William III of Prussia 21. Landgravine Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt 5. Princess Alexandrine of Prussia 22. Charles II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 11. Duchess Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 23. Princess Friederike of Hesse-Darmstadt 1. Duke John Albert of Mecklenburg 24. Count Heinrich IX Reuss of Köstritz 12. Prince Heinrich XLIV Reuss of Köstritz 25. Countess Amalie Esperance of Wartensleben-Flodroff 6. Prince Heinrich LXIII Reuss of Köstritz 26. Baron Friedrich Christian of Geuder genannt Rabensteiner 13. Baroness Wilhelmine of Geuder genannt Rabensteiner 27. Johanna Wilhelmine von Bredow 3. Princess Augusta Reuss of Köstritz 28. Count Christian Friedrich of Stolberg-Wernigerode 14. Count Heinrich of Stolberg-Wernigerode 29. Countess Auguste Eleonore of Stolberg-Stolberg 7. Countess Eleonore of Stolberg-Wernigerode 30. Prince Otto Karl Friedrich of Schonburg 15. Princess Jenny of Schonburg-Waldenburg 31. Countess Henriette Eleonore Elisabeth Reuss of Köstritz References
- ^ a b Huberty, Michel; Alain Giraud, F. B. Magdelaine. L'Allemagne Dynastique, Tome VI : Bade-Mecklembourg. pp. 239, 240. ISBN 9782901138068.
- ^ "Art and Utility Linked; German Painters Make Their Skill Serve Many Ends.". New York Times. 12 July 1896. p. 10. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A02E7D61338E233A25751C1A9619C94679ED7CF.
- ^ Winkler, Heinrich August; Sager, Alexander (2006). Germany: the long road west. 1. OUP Oxford. p. 316. ISBN 0199265976.
- ^ "Celebration in Schwerin" (PDF). New York Times. 1901-04-10. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9B04E0DC103DEE32A25753C1A9629C946097D6CF. Retrieved 2007-10-24.
- ^ The Statesman's year book. 1913. p. 911.
- ^ "Cable News". Fielding Star. 1 June 1907. p. 4. http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=FS19070601.2.8.
- ^ "Brunswick Ruler a Modern Haroun". New York Times. 8 July 1907. p. 4. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C07E0D8133EE033A2575BC0A9619C946697D6CF.
- ^ Heraldica.org
- ^ "German Colonies". Grey River Angus. 4 July 1907. p. 3. http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=GRA19170704.2.20.
- ^ Fischer, Fritz (1967). Germany's aims in the First World War. p. 461.
- ^ http://www.namibstamps.com/gswapostofficesagencies.htm
Duke John Albert of MecklenburgCadet branch of the House of MecklenburgBorn: 8 December 1857 Died: 16 February 1920Regnal titles Preceded by
Friedrich Franz III
as Grand DukeRegent of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
1897–1901Succeeded by
Friedrich Franz IV
as Grand DukePreceded by
Prince Albrecht of PrussiaRegent of Brunswick
1907–1913Succeeded by
Ernest Augustus
as DukeCategories:- 1857 births
- 1920 deaths
- People from Schwerin
- Dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
- House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
- Regents
- German Fatherland Party politicians
- Knights of the Order of Saint John (Bailiwick of Brandenburg)
- Recipients of the Order of the Black Eagle
- Knights of the Order of Saint Hubert
- Knights of the Elephant
- Recipients of the House Order of the Wendish Crown
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