Frederick William von Hessenstein

Frederick William, Prince of the Empire of Hessenstein ( Fredrik Vilhelm von Hessen stone, * November 26, 1735 in Stockholm, † April 17, 1808 in Paris) was a Swedish soldier and statesman.

Life

Frederick William was an illegitimate son of King Frederick of Sweden out of the house of Hesse -Kassel and his mistress, the Countess Hedvig Ulrika Taube († 1744).

From his father he and his brother ( the goods Panker, Klamp, Schmoel and Hohenfelde ) equipped with the rule Hessenstein, at his disposal after the death of his younger brother Charles Edward ( Carl Edvard ) in 1769 alone. With diploma dated 28 February 1741, he and his brother by the former imperial vicar, the Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, Augustus III. , Elevated to the Imperial Count of Hesse stone. On November 7, 1772 William was a personalist Imperial Prince of Hesse stone. In 1799 he received from the King of Sweden, the predicate Highness. In his goods he dismissed 1795-1800 the peasants from serfdom.

In 1773 he won the Swedish Field Marshal, Privy Councillor in 1776. From 1776 to 1791 he was Governor-General of Swedish Pomerania. Under his government Jewish and Catholic communities in Pomerania were admitted. Hessenstein was also Chancellor of the University of Greifswald and avowed Masons. In 1778 he founded the soldiers orphanage in Stralsund. Unconfirmed claims that he was the illegitimate daughter 1786 Father of Princess Sophie Albertine, sister of Gustav III. He died in 1808 unmarried. His heir was Charles of Hesse -Kassel.