Frederick-William II.

Frederick-William II., king of Prussia, nephew of Frederick II., was born 25th September 1744. As a young man he failed to win the goodwill of his uncle, owing to his excesses and his disinclination to work. Nevertheless, the natural mildness of his disposition, together with the abolition of some of the oppressive measures of Frederick II.'s reign, made him very popular at his accession in 1786. But he soon lost the affectionate regard of his subjects by his predilection for unworthy favourites, and by the abrogation of the freedom of the press and religion (1788). His uncle left him a treasury containing more than fifty million thalers; these he dissipated in a useless war with Holland. In short, his foreign policy was weak and lacking in character, whilst at home he starved the budding sense of patriotism in his subjects, and oppressed them with debt and increased taxation. He added New East Prussia, South Prussia, New Silesia, Danzig, and Thorn to his kingdom by the partitions of Poland in 1793 and 1795, and also acquired the districts of Ausbach and Baireuth. Frederick-William II. died 16th November 1797, and was succeeded by his son, Frederick-William III.