FREDERICK ELECTOR OF BRANDENBURG, son and successor of FREDERICK WILLIAM, and the first king of PruSsia, was b. in 1657, and succeeded to the electorate of Brandenburg in 1688. He exhibited the same zeal as his father for the aggrandize ment and amelioration of his dominions; but he was distinguished from him by his admiration of Louis XIV., whose pomp and luxurious display he imitated at his own court. He supported William of Orange in his attempt on England, and gave him a subsidy of 6,000 men, which, under the command of marshal Schomberg, contributed to gain the victory at the Boyne 'which decided the fete of JaineS. II. F. was always ready to lend troops and money to his allies; lie sent 6,000 of his best men to aid the imperialists against the Turks; and although he met with the same ingratitude as his father, he succeeded, by treaties, exchanges, and purchases, in very considerably extend ing his territories; and after many years' negotiations, lie induced the emperor to agree to the " crown treaty," by which, in return for permission to assume the title of king of Prussia, he bound himself to furnish certain contingents of men and money to the imperial government. As soon as this treaty had been signed, F. hastened in midwinter
with all his family and court to Konigsberg, where, on the 18th Jan., 1701, lie placed the crown on his own head. He died Feb. 25, 1713. F. did much to embellish Berlin, where he founded the royal academy of sciences, and the academy of and sculpture, erected several churches, and laid out numerous streets. He established a court of appeal at Berlin, built the palace of Charlottenburg, and founded the university at Halle; but his actions were generally influenced by a love of display; and his vanity, together with his neglect of those who had served him, made him personally unpopular, although his patriotic love of Germany redeemed, in the eyes of his countrymen, many of his bad points.