The Year of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – The life and death of George, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (Part two)

Read part one here.

On 6 November 1816, Georg succeeded his father as Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

The Hamburgh Correspondent wrote, “Our respected Grand Duke was in good health during the whole of his tour last summer, to Rebburg, Schwalbach, and Hildburghhausen, and returned amongst us in the same state. Some days after his return, he was attacked by an inflammation of the lungs, from which, however, he seemed to have recovered in three days, and was quite well on the 5th of November. But on the 6th, about 5 in the morning, he was attacked by a fit of apoplexy so severe that he lost his faculties; and in that state remained till 4 in the afternoon, when he expired. Of his children, the second son, Duke Charles, was alone present, as the Hereditary Prince had not returned from a journey which he set out upon in autumn. To his subjects, this Prince was a true father, who endeavoured to mitigate the distresses of the times with prudence, fidelity, and affection, and by the sacrifice of his own personal interests. Germany also will not forget that he was amongst the first of the minor powers to declare against the oppressor, and support the common cause with all his vigour. The Prussians will respect in him the father of their late venerated Queen; and the English, the brother of their excellent Queen.”¹

The Gentleman’s Magazine wrote, “When he succeeded his father, ‘serfdom was still an institution of his country, but he at once abolished it; and by establishing schools throughout the length and breadth of the little principality, he soon raised it from one of the most neglected into one of the most flourishing provinces of Northern Germany.’”²

On 12 August 1817, his 38th birthday, Georg married 21-year-old Marie of Hesse-Kassel. Long before her death, his sister, Louise, had tried to find a suitable bride for him. One such candidate was Princess Augusta of Bavaria, who went on to marry Eugène de Beauharnais, Duke of Leuchtenberg.³ Louise then turned her attention to England, to the daughters of her aunt, Charlotte, but nothing came from this either.⁴ In the end, Louise did not live to see her brother’s wedding.

Their first child, a daughter named Louise, was born on 31 May 1818. Three more children followed: Frederick William (born 17 October 1819), Caroline (born 10 January 1821) and Georg August (born 11 January 1824). The Gentleman’s Magazine wrote that his marriage “appears to have been a happy one.”⁵

As Grand Duke, he eschewed “military life, he devoted himself to home and domestic pursuits. He probably never wore a military uniform, but was generally seen in a plain black coat, which had, sometimes, a threadbare appearance. He mixed little with his brother princes; but he ‘ was seen trotting day after day, for more than half a century, the streets of his capital, now stepping into the shop of a baker, and examining the size and quality of the loaves; and then again looking into a crowded school-house, to see if the teachers were doing their duty, and his little subjects getting on with their reading, writing, and arithmetic.’”⁶

Georg remained close with Frederica and even took in her children at Neustrelitz when she had to go to various spas for her health. She was grateful and wrote to him, “Whatever you do for my children, you do for me.”⁷ Georg made frequent visits to Berlin to attend family celebrations, but also to visit the opera or because he needed the King to act as a mediator in family affairs.⁸ In return, the King decided to let Georg act as a mediator when he decided to pursue a morganatic marriage to Auguste von Harrach. He was quite successful in this, and most accepted the marriage.⁹

Georg’s eldest daughter, Louise, was in poor health for most of her life. She was named for Georg’s sister. Marie often travelled with her to warm climates to help restore her health. While the future King William III of the Netherlands was searching for a bride, he wrote about Louise, “What put me off most is that George of Cambridge told me she is a poet with a terrifying imagination that causes her to sometimes develop a premature enthusiasm for matters she does not know. She is small in stature and, frankly, I find her terribly ugly.”¹⁰ Louise died at the age of 23 from heart problems.¹¹

Georg would become the sole survivor of his siblings. Louise had died in 1810, followed by Charlotte in 1818, Charles in 1837, Therese in 1839 and Frederica in 1841. Georg fell ill in September 1860. The Gentleman’s Magazine wrote, “His Highness’s indisposition caused the Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, who have been recently in England with their son, Prince Adolphus Ferdinand, to return home sooner than they had intended, but it was thought after their arrival that the Grand Duke was getting better.”¹²

Georg, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, died on 6 September 1860 at the age of 81. His widow survived him for 20 years, dying on 30 December 1880 at the age of 84. He was succeeded by his eldest son.

1. The Gentleman’s Magazine 1816-11: Vol 86 p.477
2. The Gentleman’s Magazine 1860-10: Vol 209
3. Luise, die Königin und ihre Geschwister by Carolin Philipps p.195
4. Luise, die Königin und ihre Geschwister by Carolin Philipps p.197
5. The Gentleman’s Magazine 1860-10: Vol 209
6. The Gentleman’s Magazine 1860-10: Vol 209
7. Friederike von Preußen by Carolin Philipps p.300
8. Friederike von Preußen by Carolin Philipps p.300
9. Friederike von Preußen by Carolin Philipps p.301
10. Oranje in revolutie en oorlog by Jeroen Koch p.264
11. Mecklenburg-Strelitz.org
12. The Gentleman’s Magazine 1860-10: Vol 209