George I of Saxe-Meiningen

George I (German: Georg Friedrich Karl; 4 February 1761 – 24 December 1803), was Duke of Saxe-Meiningen from 21 July 1782 until his death in 1803. He was known as a reformer and considered a model prince by many of his peers.

Family George was born on 4 February 1761 in Frankfurt as the fourth but second surviving son of Anton Ulrich, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and his wife, Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Philippsthal. By birth, he was member of the Ernestine line of the House of Wettin. His father was 73 years old at the time and died two years later in 1763.

Marriage and heir In Langenburg on 27 November 1782, George married Luise Eleonore of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, the eldest daughter of Prince Christian Albert Louis of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (1726-1789) and his wife, Princess Caroline of Stolberg-Gedern (1732–1796).

After ten years they began to have children, finally having four: Adelaide Luise Therese Karoline Amalie (b. Meiningen, 13 August 1792 – d. Bentley Priory, Middlesex, 2 December 1849), married on 11 July 1818 to the Duke of Clarence, later King William IV of the United Kingdom. Ida (b. Meiningen, 25 June 1794 – d. Weimar, 4 April 1852), married on 30 May 1816 to Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. stillborn daughter (Meiningen, 16 October 1796). Bernhard II Erich Freund, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (b. Meiningen, 17 December 1800 – d. Meiningen, 3 December 1882).

Death George I died of a fever on 24 December 1803 at Meiningen.