Prince Frederick of Prussia (1794–1863)

Frederick of Prussia, also known as Prince Frederick William Charles Louis of Prussia, was born on October 30, 1794, in Berlin, Germany. He was the fourth son of King Frederick William II of Prussia and his second wife, Frederika Louise of Hesse-Darmstadt. As a member of the royal family, Frederick received a very strict education, focused on military and political matters. He became interested in military science and strategy, and he soon joined the Prussian army, where he would serve for most of his life. In 1823, Frederick was appointed as the commander of the Potsdam division of the Prussian army, and he continued to rise through the ranks, becoming a general in 1842. During his military career, he participated in several conflicts, including the Napoleonic Wars, the Greek War of Independence, and the Revolutions of 1848. In 1856, Frederick retired from active military service, but he remained involved in politics and diplomacy. He was a conservative politician, loyal to the Prussian monarchy and opposed to the liberal and democratic movements of the time. Frederick also had a personal life. In 1829, he married Princess Maria Anna of Anhalt-Dessau, with whom he had four children. His eldest son, Prince Frederick Charles, would become a prominent military commander during the Franco-Prussian War. Prince Frederick of Prussia died on January 27, 1863, at the age of 68, in Berlin. He was buried in the family crypt at the Friedenskirche in Potsdam.