| Frederick William | |
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| Reign | 1847-1866 |
| Predecessor | William II |
| Successor | Electorate abolished |
| Consort | Gertrude Falkenstein, Princess of Hanau |
| House | House of Hesse |
| Father | William II |
| Mother | Princess Augusta of Prussia |
| Born | 20 August 1802 Hanau |
| Died | 6 January 1875 (aged 72) Prague |
Frederick William I (August 20, 1802 – January 6, 1875) was, between 1847 and 1866, the last Elector of Hesse-Kassel (or Hesse-Cassel).
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He was born at Hanau, the son of Prince William, later William II, Elector of Hesse, and Princess Augusta of Prussia, daughter of Frederick William II of Prussia.
During the French occupation of Hesse-Kassel (1806–1813) he stayed with his mother in Berlin. The relationship with his father was bad, because of his father's affair with Emilie Ortlöpp.
Frederick was educated at Marburg and Leipzig. He became co-regent on September 30, 1831, and Elector in 1847.[1] Under influence of his minister Hans Daniel Ludwig Friedrich Hassenpflug he conducted a reactionary policy, which made him very unpopular. He was forced to give in to the demands of the March Revolution, but reinstated Hassenpflug in 1850 after the revolution had been crushed.
In the Austro-Prussian War (1866) he chose the side of Austria. His capital Kassel was occupied by Prussia, and, as a consequence of his refusal to negotiate,[1] he was transferred as a prisoner to Stettin on June 23. Hessen-Kassel was annexed by Prussia in the same year.
Frederick William never accepted the Prussian dominance over his territory. Even after the creation of the unified German Empire (1871), he tried to regain his throne. He died at Prague in 1875.
Frederick William morganatically married on June 26, 1831 to Gertrude Falkenstein (Bonn, 18 May 1803 – Prague 9 July 1882), daughter of Johann Gottfried Falkenstein (son of Nicolaus Falkenstein and wife Margarethe Heyss) and wife Magdalena Schulz (daughter of Johann Ludwig Albert Schulz and wife Sophie Krupps).
Former wife (m. Graven-Rheindorf, 30 November 1822) of Lt Karl Michael Lehmann[2] (Bischofswerden, 16 June 1787 – Wandsbek, 1882), whom his father made Her Illustrious Highness Countess of Schaumburg in (1831), and whom he made Princess (Fürstin) of Hanau and to Horowitz in (1853).
They had nine children, some born before marriage, who were also made princes (Prinzen) of Hanau, and granted the style of Serene Highness in 1862.[3] Subsequently, the Elector divorced Gertrud.
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Frederick William, Elector of Hesse
Cadet branch of the House of Hesse
Born: 20 August 1802 Died: 6 January 1875 |
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| Regnal titles | ||
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| Preceded by William II |
Elector of Hesse 1847 — 1866 |
Monarchy abolished Electorate annexed by Prussia
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| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by William II as Elector of Hesse |
Head of State of Hesse-Kassel 1847 — 1866 |
Succeeded by William I of Prussia as German Emperor |
| Titles in pretence | ||
| Loss of title |
— TITULAR — Elector of Hesse 1866-1875 |
Succeeded by Prince Frederick William of Hesse-Kassel |
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