FRIEDRICH FRANZ I, GRAND DUKE OF MECKLENBURG-SCHWERIN

'Frederick Francis (''Friedrich Franz'') I, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin' (10 December 1756 - 1 February 1837) ruled over the German state of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, first as Duke (1785-1815) and then as Grand Duke (1815-1837).
He was born in Schwerin to Ludwig, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Charlotte Sophie, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. Friedrich Franz succeeded his uncle Friedrich as Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin in 1785.
On 1 June 1775 Friedrich Franz married Luise of Saxe-Gotha. They had six children:

★ Hereditary Prince Friedrich Ludwig of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (13 June, 1778 - 29 November, 1819). He married Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna of Russia, a daughter of Paul I of Russia and Sophie Marie Dorothea of Württemberg. They were parents of Paul Friedrich, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

★ Louise Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (19 November, 1779 - 4 January, 1801). Married Emil Leopold August, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. They were parents to Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, mother of Prince Consort Albert. ''Friedrich Franz thus is one of the ancestors of Queen Elizabeth II and the British Royal Family.''

★ Gustav Wilhelm of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (31 January, 1781 - 10 January, 1851).

★ Karl of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (2 July, 1782 - 22 May, 1833).

★ Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (4 December, 1784 - 13 July, 1840). Married Christian VIII of Denmark. They were parents to Frederick VII of Denmark.

★ Adolf of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (18 December, 1785 - 8 May, 1821).
Following the Napoleonic Wars, Friedrich Franz raised himself to the dignity of Grand Duke. Along with his cousin of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, he was known as one of the most reactionary German rulers. On his death in 1837 he was succeeded by his grandson, Grand Duke Paul Friedrich.