Frederick III., second German emperor and eighth king of Prussia, was the only son of the Emperor William I. and the Empress Augusta. Born at Potsdam, October 18, 1831, he was early trained to the profession of arms, whilst his general education was conducted by the Rev. W. Godet and Dr Ernst Curtius, the historian. The prince subsequently studied at Bonn University (1849-50), and then travelled in Switzerland, the Tyrol, Italy, and France. For some years he now closely studied the art of war under Moltke. He paid several visits to England, and in January 1858 was married at St James's to Victoria, the Princess Royal. On becoming Crown-prince of Prussia in 1861, he began to take a more prominent part in public affairs. In 1863 he protested against the drastic policy of King William and Prince Bismarck in relation to constitutional questions and the press. He went through the Danish war, and was present at the battle of Düppel, and at the later operations of the Prussian and Austrian forces, which resulted in the defeat of Denmark. On the outbreak of the war between Prussia and Austria on 12th May 1866 the crown-prince was placed at the head of the second Prussian army, forming the left wing of the forces in Silesia. During a brief but brilliant series of operations he fought victorious engagements at Trautenau and Nachod, capturing 8000 prisoners. His opportune arrival on the field of Sadowa, or Königgrätz, gave this crowning victory to the Prussians. For this he received the Order of Merit. In 1869 the crown-prince travelled through Palestine. In the Franco-German war 'our Fritz,' as the soldiers called him, commanded the third army, consisting of the armies of the south; and his were the victories of Wissembourg and Wörth. He next passed the Vosges Mountains, and effected a junction with the first and second German armies. In the memorable engagements which closed with the French capitulation at Sedan, the crown-prince's troops and those of Prince Frederick-Charles (q.v.) were engaged against the greater part of MacMahon's forces. The Germans succeeded in crossing the river Meuse, this difficult operation being effected by the crown-prince, aided by General von der Tann. The dignity of field-marshal was conferred on him, October 28, upon the fall of Metz; at Versailles, on 18th January 1871, he became crown-prince of the German empire; and for his distinguished services he received the Iron Cross and numerous other orders.
During the time of peace which now ensued the crown-prince manifested a keen interest in the welfare and development of Germany. In 1878, when the Emperor William was wounded by an assassin, the crown-prince was appointed provisional regent. On the occasion of Queen Victoria's jubilee, in June 1887, he rode in his white cuirassier's uniform by the side of the Prince of Wales—his last important appearance in public. It was already known that he was suffering from an affection of the throat, and in the course of a few months this assumed a malignant form. In the succeeding autumn he removed to San Remo. On 9th February 1888 the operation of tracheotomy was performed by Dr Bramann, in the presence of Sir Morell Mackenzie (who had been in constant attendance upon the prince) and Drs Schmidt and Hovell. The prince bore the ordeal with characteristic fortitude, and for some time relief was experienced by artificial respiration. On 9th March the Emperor William died; and the crown-prince was proclaimed emperor under the title of Frederick III. With the Empress Victoria, he set out for Berlin, and on reaching that city issued an eloquent proclamation to his people. During the next two months the insidious malady exhibited many fluctuations, but after a brave and patient battling against death, the emperor expired on 15th June 1888. The epithet of 'Frederick the Noble' well befits the character and career of this illustrious sovereign. Though a successful soldier, he had a great horror of war. He imbibed broad and liberal views of theology, literature, and politics; was opposed to the persecution of the Jews; encouraged art and letters; had an intense dislike for autocratic ideas, and sought as far as possible to liberalise the institutions of the empire. As a ruler, it was his earnest desire to reconcile the monarchy with popular aspirations, and had he lived he must have deeply impressed his personality upon the future of Germany. See English Life by Rennell Rodd (1888); and German ones by Müller, Ziemssen, Bohn, Freytag (1889), and Philippson (1892).