, image = Friedrich Wilhelm, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1819-1904).jpg , caption = The Grand Duke , succession = Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz , predecessor = George , successor = Adolf Frederick V , reign =6 September 1860 – 30 May 1904 , house = Mecklenburg-Strelitz , spouse = , issue =Duke Frederick William
Adolphus Frederick V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz , father =

George, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz George (german: Georg; 12 August 1779 – 6 September 1860) ruled the state of Mecklenburg-Strelitz as Grand Duke of Mecklenburg from 1816 until his death. Early life Duke George Frederick Charles Joseph of Mecklenburg was born in Hanover, the e ...

, mother = Princess Marie of Hesse-Kassel , birth_date = , birth_place = Neustrelitz, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, German Confederation , death_date = , death_place = Neustrelitz, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Germany , burial_date =6 June 1904 , burial_place = Mirow, Mecklenburg-Strelitz Frederick William (17 October 1819 – 30 May 1904) was a German

sovereign ''Sovereign'' is a title which can be applied to the highest leader in various categories. The word is borrowed from Old French , which is ultimately derived from the Latin , meaning 'above'. The roles of a sovereign vary from monarch, ruler or ...

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 University of Bonn where he befriended Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. After finishing his studies, he went travelling to Italy and

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

. 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 The German Empire (),Herbert Tuttle wrote in September 1881 that the term "Reich" does not literally connote an empire as has been commonly assumed by English-speaking people. The term literally denotes an empire – particularly a hereditary ...

. Friedrich Wilhelm was a large land owner with more than half of the entire grand duchy, his personal property. 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 Buckingham Palace () is a London royal residence and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality. It ...

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: *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.

Titles, styles and honours

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

Honours

;German honours
Grossherzoglich Mecklenburg-Schwerinscher Staatskalendar
', 1902, p. 6 ;Foreign honours

Ancestry

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Frederick William Of Mecklenburg, Grand Duke 1819 births 1904 deaths Protestant monarchs Dukes of Mecklenburg-Strelitz House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz People from Neustrelitz Hereditary Grand Dukes of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Grand Dukes of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Grand Crosses of the Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary Recipients of the Order of the Netherlands Lion Recipients of the Order of the White Eagle (Russia) Recipients of the Order of St. Anna, 1st class Recipients of the Order of Saint Stanislaus (Russian), 1st class Grand Crosses of the Order of the Star of Romania Extra Knights Companion of the Garter Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath