Charles II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg was born in Mirow on 10 October 1741, the second son of Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg and Princess Elisabeth Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen. On 11 December 1752, his uncle Adolphus Frederick III died and was succeeded by Charles's older brother, who became Adolphus Frederick IV. With his brother's accession, Charles was taken with the rest of the family from Mirow to the capital Strelitz. From the age of 4, Charles looked set for a career in Hanoverian service after being given a Captain's commission. His sister Charlotte married the Elector of Hanover, King George III of the United Kingdom on 8 September 1761. Charles made frequent visits to his sister in Great Britain and he ultimately entered the service of his brother-in-law the Elector of Hanover with a chief military appointment at Hanover following service in Spain under Count Lippe. In the autumn of 1776, Charles was appointed governor-general of Hanover by his brother-in-law. As Governor of Hanover, Charles effectively held all the powers of a sovereign ruler. His brother-in-law had no wish to reside in Germany, being thoroughly English. Charles then spent some time traveling before settling down in Darmstadt, where he became President of the Imperial Credit Commission. ==Ruler of Mecklenburg-Strelitz==

As ruler, Charles encouraged new agricultural trends, established a new police force, and implemented compulsory education. In 1806, his duchy joined the Confederation of the Rhine. Following the Congress of Vienna, he was elevated to the rank of grand duke on 28 June 1815. In the summer of 1816, Charles went on a tour of Rebberg, Schwalbach and Hildburghausen. Shortly after returning, he was taken ill with inflammation of the lungs. He died in Neustrelitz on 6 November 1816 after suffering a fit of apoplexy. He was succeeded by his eldest son Georg. ==Marriages and children==

After unsuccessful attempts to marry a Princess of Denmark and a Princess of Saxe-Gotha, They had ten children together, five of which survived to adulthood. Two of the daughters became German queen consorts. • Duchess Charlotte Georgine of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1769–1818) married Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg • Duchess Caroline Auguste of Mecklenburg (1771–1773), died in infancy • Duke Georg Carl of Mecklenburg (1772–1773), died in infancy • Duchess Therese of Mecklenburg (1773–1839) married Karl Alexander, 5th Prince of Thurn and Taxis • Duke Friedrich Georg of Mecklenburg (1774–1774), died at the age of two months • Duchess Louise of Mecklenburg (1776–1810) married Frederick William III of Prussia • Duchess Frederica of Mecklenburg (1778–1841) married (1) Prince Louis Charles of Prussia (2) Prince Frederick William of Solms-Braunfels (3) Ernest Augustus, King of Hanover • George, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1779–1860) • Duke Friedrich Karl of Mecklenburg (1781–1783), died in infancy • Duchess Auguste Albertine of Mecklenburg (1782–1782), lived one day After Friederike's death in complications of the birth of their tenth child in 1782, Charles married her sister Princess Charlotte of Hesse-Darmstadt on 28 September 1784 in Darmstadt. Charlotte died on 12 December 1785 shortly after giving birth to their son Duke Charles of Mecklenburg (1785–1837). ==Ancestry==