Prince Frederick of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau (full names: Willem Frederik Karel; 28 February 1797, in Berlin – 8 September 1881, in Wassenaar), was the second son of William I of the Netherlands and his wife, Wilhelmine of Prussia.
Frederick was active in the military and political life of the Netherlands. He served as Commissary-general of the Department of War and as Chief Director of War and Navy, where he modernized the army according to the Prussian model. Frederick also led the Dutch troops during the Belgian Revolution in 1830. Additionally, he was a prominent Freemason and Grand Master of the Order of Freemasons. After his active career, he withdrew to his estate and played a mediating role within the royal family.
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Early life
The prince grew up at the court of his grandfather Frederick William II of Prussia and uncle Frederick William III of Prussia. One of his tutors was Carl von Clausewitz. Aged 16, the prince fought in the Battle of Leipzig.
The prince first entered the Netherlands in December 1813. As he spoke no Dutch, the prince was sent to Leiden University to get a further education. He was also educated by Karl Ludwig von Phull in The Hague. When Napoleon returned from Elba, during the Hundred Days the prince was given command of a detachment of Wellington's army which was posted in a fall back position near Braine-le-Comte should the battle taking place at Waterloo be lost.
Prince of the Netherlands
Based on a house treaty, Frederick was to inherit the family's German possessions upon his father's death. After the treaty of Vienna these were no longer in the possession of the family. He instead was made heir to the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg. In 1816, Frederick relinquished this claim in exchange for land in the Netherlands and the title of Prince of the Netherlands. As a further compensation he received a yearly amount of 190,000 Dutch guilders. This made him the wealthiest member of the House of Orange-Nassau. With the money he bought a large estate in Germany, which made him the largest land owner from the Netherlands.
Aged 18, Frederick was made a major-general by his father and given nominal command of the Dutch-Belgian 1st Division (lt.-gen. Stedman) that was tasked with guarding Wellington's escape route to the sea in case things had gone awry for the Anglo-Dutch army at the Battle of Waterloo. Napoleon was, however, defeated, also thanks to the other two Dutch-Belgian divisions that did fight at that battle. Fredrick then took part in the invasion of northern France that followed Napoleon's defeat
In 1816 Frederick was appointed Grand Master of the Grand Orient of the Netherlands a function he would hold until his death in 1881. In 1851 he became one of the first Honorary Members of The Grand Lodge of Scotland, alongside Oscar I of Sweden.
In 1826 Frederick was appointed Commissary-general of the Department of War. In this office, Frederick reorganized the army on a Prussian model. Frederick founded the Royal military academy in Breda and reequipped the army with modern weapons.
In 1829 Frederick was a candidate for the Greek throne, but he declined because he did not want to be king of a country whose language and traditions were foreign to him.
When the Belgian Revolution broke out in 1830, Frederick commanded the troops sent to Brussels to suppress the rebellion there. Frederick led these troops in several days of fighting in Brussels, but could not retake the city. Frederick also took part in the campaign of his brother's 1831 Ten Days' Campaign in Belgium.
Marriage
Prince Frederick married in Berlin on 21 May 1825 his first cousin Louise, daughter of Frederick William III of Prussia. They had four children:
Wilhelmina Frederika Alexandrine Anna Louise (5 August 1828 in The Hague – 30 March 1871 in Stockholm), married in Stockholm on 19 June 1850 to Charles XV of Sweden (3 May 1826 in Stockholm – 18 September 1872 in Malmö)
Willem Frederik Nicolaas Karel (6 July 1833 in The Hague – 1 November 1834 in The Hague) died in infancy.
Willem Frederik Nicolaas Albert (22 August 1836 in The Hague – 23 January 1846 in The Hague) died young at age 9.
Wilhelmina Frederika Anna Elisabeth Marie (5 June 1841 in Huize De Paauw, Wassenaar – 22 June 1910 in Neuwied), married in Wassenaar on 18 July 1871 to William, Prince of Wied (22 August 1845 in Neuwied – 22 October 1907 in Neuwied). They were parents of William, Prince of Albania.