William II, Elector of Hesse
William II, Elector of Hesse, was born on 28 June 1777 in Kassel, Hesse-Kassel, Germany. He was the son of William I, Elector of Hesse and Wilhelmina Caroline of Denmark. In 1802, William II became the Elector of Hesse following the death of his father. During his reign, he supported the policies of Napoleon and became a member of the Confederation of the Rhine. During the Napoleonic Wars, he provided troops for the French army and served as a mediator in negotiations between France and Prussia. However, after the Battle of Leipzig in 1813, he switched sides and joined the coalition against Napoleon. William II continued to rule Hesse until his death on 20 November 1847. He was succeeded by his son, Frederick William.
