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Friedrich Wilhelm II
King of Prussia
(1744–97)

Biographical

He succeeded his uncle Friedrich the Great in 1786. He was too much occupied in unworthy pleasures to be a successful ruler, and although by the second and third partitions of Poland, and also by acquiring of Anspach, Bayreuth, Danzig, and Thorn, he added to his territory, he, on the other hand, lost the trans-Rhenish provinces to the French republic. He wasted the treasure left by his uncle, lowered the reputation of Prussia among foreign nations, and displeased his subjects by taking from their liberties and adding to their taxation. At his death, he left the state in bankruptcy and confusion, the army decayed and the monarchy discredited. Friedrich Wilhelm was himself a cellist, and Mozart and Beethoven dedicated chamber music to him.

Place of birth: Berlin
Place of first marriage: Charlottenburg
Place of second marriage: Charlottenburg
Place of death: Marmorpalais, Potsdam

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