*LEOPOLD GEORGE CHRISTIAN FREDERICK, KING OF THE BELGIANS, Duke of Saxony, Prince of Saxe Coburg Gotha, Margrave of Meissen, and Landgrave of Thuringen, is the third and youngest eon of Francis Anthony Frederick, late reigning duke of Saxe Saalfeld Coburg. His Majesty is consequently brother of the Duchess of Kent, uncle to her Majesty Queen Victoria, and to her consort Prince Albert. He was born on the 16th of December 1790, and while holding the title of Prince Leopold of Saxe Cobourg he married (May 2nd, 1816) the Princess Charlotte Augusta, only child of his late Majesty King George IV., at that time prince regent ; but was left a widower on the 6th of November in the following year. An allowance of 60,0001. a year bad been settled jointly on the prince and princes., with a stipulation that, in event of the death of the princess. the annuity of the prince should be reduced to 50,0001. As husband of the heiress apparent to the British throne, Prince Leopold obtained general esteem and respect by his domestic conduct, which certainly offered a very worthy example to royalty at that day; and he resided for many years subsequently at Claremont.
It is well known that tho existence of Belgium as a separate state dates only from August 1830, when the revolution of Brussels severed the Belgian provinces from the crown of Holland. In the following October a provisional government was appointed, and in December it was announced to the congress in Brussels that the allied powers of Europe had recognised the permanent erection of those provinces into a separate stato under the name of Belgium. The throne of Belgium having been offered to and declined by the Duo de Nemours, son of Louia-Philippe, a new election became necessary, and after a few months of anarchy and confusion, during which fierce and formidable riots broke ont at Antwerp, Brussels, and Liege, on the 4th of June 1531 the National Congress at Brussels, after a long discussion, elected Prince Leopold king of the Belgians by a majority of 152 votes to 15.
In consequence of an unwillingness on the part of the Belgians to comply with the terms of the great powers of Europa with respect to the territories of that state, the prince declined the crown, but was subsequently induced to accept it conditionally on the 26th of the same month. lie entered the capital on the 21st of July, and ascended the throne the day following as King of the Belgians. Belgium is a limited constitutional monarchy, and the succession is limited to the direct male line, to the exclusion of females, and in default of a male heir it is lawful for the king to nominate his successor. In opening the Belgian parliament, King Leopold expressed his intention to encourage manufactures and commerce, and the most perfect civil and religious liberty ; and this royal promise has been amply redeemed, as is shown by the flourishing condition of the country. In 1832 King Leopold married ae his second wife Louise-Marie ThSrhee, princess of Orleans, eldest daughter of Louis-Philippe, king of the French, by whom he has three children, the eldest of whom, Leopold-Louis-Philippe, born April 9, 1835, is prince royal, duke of Brabant, and heir apparent to the Belgian crown.