FREDERICK-WILLIAM, DrKli OF BRUNSWICK, b. in 1771, entered the Prussian ser vice at an early age, and was actively engaged with the army during the war with France in 1792, and again in 1806, and was taken prisoner with Blilaier at Leipsic. On the death of his father and eldest brother, he would have succeeded to the duke dom, as his other brothers were incapacitated by disease for reigning, had not Napoleon put a veto on his accession to power. Beirig, resolved to take part in the war against the French, he raised a free corps in Bohemia, and threw himself into Saxony, which he was, however, speedily compelled to evacuate. After the total defeat of the Aus trians in 1809, the duke determined to leave Germany; and with his corps of 700 " black hussars," and 800 infantry, lie began his masterly retreat. After various skir mishes, in one of which he defeated the Westphalian commander Wellingerode and a picked detachment of troops, lie reached Brunswick, in the neighborhood of which he gained a victory at Oelper over 4,000 Westphalians, commanded by gen. Heupel. He next crossed the Weser, and having reached Elstleth, and taken possession of a suffi cient number of vessels and seamen, he embarked Ids troops•, and finally, after stopping at Heligoland, landed in England with his men in Aug., 1809. He was received with enthusiasm; and having entered the English service with his men, subsequently took part in the Peninsular war, where he served with distinction, receiving from the British government an allowance of £6,000 a year, which he retained till his return to his own dominions in 1813. Although no prince could be more earnestly bent on securing the welfare of his subjects, his efforts failed utterly from the untimely and injudicious nature of the reforms lie endeavored to effect; while the magnitude of his military establishments, which were quite unsuited to the limited extent of his territories, excited the of his people. He joined the allied army with his hussars after the return of Napoleon from Elba, and fell gloriously while leading on his men at Quatre Bras, on the 16th of June, 1815.
Crown-prince of the German empire and of Prussia, only soil of William I. (q.v.), king of Prussia and now German emperor, was b. Oct. 18, 1831. His earnest character and eminent talents were early developed under the care of excel lent masters, among others of Ernest Curtins (q.v.), who also accompanied him to the university of Bonn, where the prince was matriculated in the law faculty. After the Completion of his education, the prince visited several foreign countries, among others, England, where it seems he became attached to the princess-royal, eldest daughter of queen Victoria, and was married to her on the 25th Jan., 1858, with the highest appro bation of both nations. Of the issue of this union, there are now living two sons (the eldest Frederick-William, born 27th Jan., 1859), and four daughters. Since his father ascended the throne, the crown-prince has taken part in the more important affairs of state. He served in the Danish 'campaign in a subordinate capacity; nevertheless, he gave Sufficient proofs of his great ability, to cause the king to intrust to him an impor tant (according to some, the most important) task in the war with Austria in 1866, namely, the command of the left Prussian wing operating in and from Silesia. How ably the prince played his part at Koniggratz is well known. In the Franco-German war, 1870-71, he acted a very conspicuous part as commander of the troops of Bavaria, Wfittemberg, and Baden. He was present at Sedan, Aug., 1870; and was made a field-marshal two months after by his father. Frederick-William is heir-presumptive to the imperial crown of Germany, as well as the throne of Prussia. During the emperor's illness caused by an assassin's shot in 1878, his public functions were performed by the crown-prince.