Karl II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Charles II (Charles Louis Frederick; 10 October 1741 – 6 November 1816) was ruler of the state of Mecklenburg-Strelitz from 1794 until his death. Originally ruling as duke, he was raised to the rank of grand duke in 1815. Prior to succeeding to the throne, he served as Governor of Hanover from 1776 to 1786.

Early life and service in Hanover 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. They had ten children together, five of which survived to adulthood: 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. boxstyle_1=background-color: #fcc; boxstyle_2=background-color: #fb9; boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc; boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc; 1= 1. Charles II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 2= 2. Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg 3= 3. Princess Elisabeth Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen 4= 4. Adolf Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 5= 5. Princess Christiane Emilie of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen 6= 6. Ernest Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen 7= 7. Countess Sophia Albertine of Erbach-Erbach 8= 8. Adolf Frederick I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 9= 9. Duchess Marie Katharina of Brunswick-Dannenberg 10= 10. Christian William I, Prince of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen 11= 11. Countess Antonie Sibylle of Barby-Mühlingen 12= 12. Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen 13= 13. Countess Sophie of Waldeck 14= 14. George Louis I, Count of Erbach-Erbach 15= 15. Countess Amalia Katharina of Waldeck-Eisenberg