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.

George
Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Reign6 November 1816 – 6 September 1860
PredecessorCharles II
SuccessorFrederick William
Born(1779-08-12)12 August 1779
Hanover
Died6 September 1860(1860-09-06) (aged 81)
Neustrelitz
SpousePrincess Marie of Hesse-Cassel
IssueDuchess Luise of Mecklenburg
Frederick William, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Caroline, Crown Princess of Denmark
Duke Georg August of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
HouseHouse of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
FatherCharles II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg
MotherPrincess Friederike of Hesse-Darmstadt
ReligionLutheranism

Early life

Duke George Frederick Charles Joseph of Mecklenburg was born in Hanover, the eighth child of Charles II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and his first wife Princess Friederike of Hesse-Darmstadt. Following the death of his mother in 1782 his father married her sister Charlotte two years later in 1784 and the family moved from Hanover to Darmstadt. George remained in Darmstadt until 1794, when his father succeeded as the ruling Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and George accompanied his father to Neustrelitz.[1]

Heir apparent

Soon after arriving in Neustrelitz, George enrolled at the University of Rostock, where he studied until 1799.[2] After leaving university, George went to Berlin, where he lived at the Prussian court. George's sister Louise was married to the Prussian king, Frederick William III.[1] In 1802 he went to Italy, where he lived until 1804, He then returned to Germany and settled in Darmstadt.[3]

Following the Battle of Jena-Auerstedt in 1806, George travelled to Paris, where he negotiated the entry of Mecklenburg-Strelitz into the Confederation of the Rhine. He also attended the Congress of Vienna in 1814, where Mecklenburg-Strelitz was raised to the status of a grand duchy.[1]

Grand Duke

When George succeeded his father on 6 November 1816, he found the grand duchy in a bad state. He set about raising the standard of education of his subjects by building schools. By the end of his reign, the majority of his subjects could read and write.[3] He also improved agriculture in the grand duchy and abolished serfdom.[1]

George died on 6 September 1860 at Neustrelitz and was succeeded by his eldest son Friedrich Wilhelm.

Marriage and children

On 12 August 1817 in Kassel, George married Princess Marie of Hesse-Cassel, the daughter of Prince Frederick of Hesse.[4] Together they had four children:

Titles and styles
  • 12 August 1779 – 2 June 1794: His Serene Highness Duke George of Mecklenburg, Prince of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
  • 2 June 1794 – 28 June 1815: His Serene Highness The Hereditary Prince of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
  • 28 June 1815 – 6 November 1816: His Royal Highness The Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
  • 6 November 1816 – 6 September 1860: His Royal Highness The Grand Duke of Mecklenburg

Ancestry
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References
  1. Bogue, David (1852). The Men of the Time in 1852, Or, Sketches of Living Notables. G. Barclay. pp. 287.
  2. See entry of George, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in Rostock Matrikelportal
  3. "The Gentleman's Magazine". F. Jefferies. 1860. p. 430.
  4. Huberty, Michel; Alain Giraud; F. et B. Magdelaine. L'Allemagne Dynastique, Tome VI : Bade-Mecklembourg. p. 218. ISBN 978-2-901138-06-8.
George, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Cadet branch of the House of Mecklenburg
Born: 12 August 1779 Died: 6 September 1860
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Charles II		 Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
1816–1860		 Succeeded by
Friedrich Wilhelm
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