Frederick Francis I, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

Infobox Monarch
name =Frederick Francis I
title =Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin


reign =24 April 1785 – 1 February 1837
predecessor =Friedrich II
successor =Paul Friedrich
consort =Luise of Saxe-Gotha
royal house =Mecklenburg
father =Ludwig
mother =Charlotte Sophie of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
date of birth =Birth date|1756|12|10
place of birth =Schwerin
date of death =Death date and age|1837|2|1|1756|12|10
place of death =Ludwigslust|

Frederick Francis I, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg [-Schwerin] (10 December 1756 - 1 February 1837) ruled over the German state of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, first as Duke (1785-1815) and then as Grand Duke (1815-1837).

Biography

He was born in Schwerin to Duke Ludwig of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Princess Charlotte Sophie of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. Friedrich Franz succeeded his uncle Friedrich as Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin in 1785. [http://pages.prodigy.net/ptheroff/gotha/mecklenburg.html Online Gotha] ]

Following the Napoleonic Wars, Friedrich Franz was raised to the dignity of Grand Duke by the Congress of Vienna. [cite book |last= Haydn|first= Joseph| title =History of the Wars of the French Revolution | publisher =Bangs| date =1855| pages =555] Along with his cousin in Mecklenburg-Strelitz, he was known as one of the most reactionary German rulers. On his death in 1837 he was succeeded by his grandson, Grand Duke Paul Friedrich.

Marriage and children

On 1 June 1775 in Gotha Friedrich Franz married with the Princess Luise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1756-1808). They had six children:

*Friedrich Ludwig (13 June, 1778 - 29 November, 1819). He married Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna of Russia, a daughter of Paul I of Russia and Sophie Marie Dorothea of Württemberg. They were parents of Paul Friedrich, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Paul Friedrich's oldest son was Friedrich Franz II (1823-1883), who succeeded as Grand Duke in 1842. Friedrich Franz's youngest child was Heinrich (1876-1934), who married Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands in 1901. Heinrich, as Prince consort of the Netherlands, became known as Prins Hendrik. His oldest granddaughter is Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.
*Louise Charlotte (19 November, 1779 - 4 January, 1801). Married Emil Leopold August, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. They were parents to Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, mother of Prince Consort Albert. Friedrich Franz thus is one of the ancestors of Queen Elizabeth II and the British Royal Family.
*Gustav Wilhelm (31 January, 1781 - 10 January, 1851).
*Karl (2 July, 1782 - 22 May, 1833).
*Charlotte (4 December, 1784 - 13 July, 1840). Married Christian VIII of Denmark. They were parents to Frederick VII of Denmark.
*Adolf (18 December, 1785 - 8 May, 1821).

References