Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

Frederick II
Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Portrait of Duke Frederick II by Georg David Matthieu, 1772
Born	9 November 1717 Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Died	21 April 1785 (aged 67) Ludwigslust, Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Spouse	Duchess Louise Frederica of Württemberg
Full name German: Friedrich
House	House of Mecklenburg
Father	Christian Ludwig II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Mother	Duchess Gustave Caroline of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, called the Pious (German: Friedrich II Herzog von Mecklenburg-Schwerin; 9 November 1717 – 21 April 1785) was Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin from 1756 until his death.

Early life

Frederick was born at Schwerin, the son of Christian Ludwig II, Duke of Mecklenburg, and his wife, Duchess Gustave Caroline of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

In his childhood and youth his great-aunt Duchess Augusta of Mecklenburg-Schwerin had great influence on the intellectual and spiritual development of Frederick, essentially in instilling the beliefs of Pietism.

Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

After the death of his father in 1756, Frederick assumed the government of the Duchy. Shortly after his accession the country was involved in the Seven Years' War.

Frederick, was a supporter of Pietism. He encouraged the school system, promoted the textile manufacturing and abolished torture. In 1764 he moved his residence from Schwerin to Schloss Ludwigslust. In 1765 he ordered the construction of the Imperial Church (completed in 1770, now the City Church) by architect Johann Joachim Busch, and he continued the expansion of Schloss Ludwigslust between 1772 and 1776.

Marriage

Frederick married on 2 March 1746 at Schwedt to Duchess Louise Frederica of Württemberg, daughter of Frederick Louis, Hereditary Prince of Württemberg, and his wife Margravine Henriette Marie of Brandenburg-Schwedt. They had four children, who died young.

At his death, the dukedom was inherited by his nephew Frederick Francis, a son of his brother Louis.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

16. Johann VII, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin               8. Adolf Frederick I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin                       17. Princess Sophie of Holstein-Gottorp               4. Frederick, Duke of Mecklenburg-Grabow                             18. Julius Ernst, Duke of Brunswick-Dannenberg               9. Duchess Maria Katharina of Brunswick-Dannenberg                       19. Countess Marie of Ostfriesland               2. Christian Ludwig II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin                                   20. Frederick I, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg               10. Wilhelm Christoph, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg                       21. Countess Margarethe of Leiningen-Westerburg               5. Landgravine Christine Wilhelmine of Hesse-Homburg                             22. George II, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt               11. Landgravine Sofie Eleonore of Hesse-Darmstadt                       23. Duchess Sophia Eleonore of Saxony               1. Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin                                         24. Johann VII, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (= 16)               12. Adolf Frederick I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (= 8)                       25. Princess Sophie of Holstein-Gottorp (= 17)               6. Adolphus Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz                             26. Julius Ernst, Duke of Brunswick-Dannenberg (= 18)               13. Duchess Maria Katharina of Brunswick-Dannenberg (= 9)                       27. Countess Marie of Ostfriesland (= 19)               3. Duchess Gustave Caroline of Mecklenburg-Strelitz                                   28. John Albert II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow               14. Gustav Adolph, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow                       29. Princess Eleonore Marie of Anhalt-Bernburg               7. Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow                             30. Frederick III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp               15. Princess Magdalene Sibylle of Holstein-Gottorp                       31. Duchess Marie Elisabeth of Saxony

Notes and sources

• Genealogics - Leo van de Pas - Friedrich, Herzog von Mecklenburg-Schwerin
• Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser, Reference: 1956
• Het Groothertogelijk Huis Mecklenburg, Bergen-op-Zoom, 1901–1902, Juten, W. J. F., Reference: 106