Georg, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

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Georg
Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Reign 6 November 1816 - 6 September 1860
Born August 12, 1779 (1779-08-12)
Birthplace Hannover
Died September 6, 1860 (aged 81)
Place of death Neustrelitz
Predecessor Charles II
Successor Friedrich Wilhelm
Consort Marie of Hesse-Kassel
Royal House Mecklenburg
Father Charles II
Mother Friederike of Hesse-Darmstadt

Georg Friedrich Karl Joseph (12 August 1779 - 6 September 1860) was a Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

Contents

[edit] Biography

He was born in Hannover the eighth child of Grand Duke Charles II of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Landgravine Friederike of Hesse-Darmstadt (1752-1782). Following the death of his mother in 1782 his father married her sister Charlotte in 1784 and the family moved from Hanover to Darmstadt where he was educated until 1794 when his father succeeded as Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Soon after arriving in Strelitz he enrolled at the University of Rostock where he studied until 1799.[1] In 1802 he went to Italy where he lived until 1804 when he returned to Germany and settled in Darmstadt.[2]

Following the Battle of Jena-Auerstedt Georg travelled to Paris where he negotiated Mecklenburg-Strelitz's entry into the Confederation of the Rhine.[1]

[edit] Grand Duke

When he succeeded his father on the 6 November 1816 he found the Grand Duchy in a bad state a proceeded to build schools where by at the of his reign the majority of his subjects could read and write.[2] During his reign he also improved agriculture and abolished serfdom.[1]

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

[edit] Marriage and children

On 12 August 1817 he married Princess Marie of Hesse-Kassel (1796-1880) the daughter of Prince Frederick of Hesse, and they had four children.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Bogue, David (1852). The Men of the Time in 1852, Or, Sketches of Living Notables. G. Barclay, 287. 
  2. ^ a b "The Gentleman's Magazine", F. Jefferies, 1860, pp. 430. 
Georg, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
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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