Note 179 — JOURNAL OF ELIZABETH LADY HOLLAND (continued 4)

Frederick William III. (1770–1840) succeeded to the throne of Prussia on his father’s death in November 1797. The late King, Frederick William II. (1744–1797), was nephew and successor of Frederick the Great. The boundaries of Prussia were largely extended during his reign, but his methods of ruling the country, influenced by unworthy favourites, did not commend themselves to his people. He divorced his first wife, Princess Elizabeth of Brunswick, in 1769, and married Princess Louise of Hesse-Darmstadt, by whom he had six children.