|
Dromo's Den
|
|
[Up] [Dromo's Den] Frederick the Great Biography Frederick II, best known as Frederick the Great; born Jan. 27, 1712; the son of Frederick William I., and the Princess Sophia Dorothea of Hanover. Though, by the direction of his father, he was instructed only in the details of military exercises and service, his taste for poetry and music was early developed by the influence of his first instructress, the highly gifted Madame de Rocoules, and his early teacher, Duhan, who, countenanced by the queen, formed a secret opposition to his father's system of education. The death of his father raised him to the throne May 31, 1740. Frederick on his accession found in his States a population of only 2,240,000. At his decease he left 6,000,000 He raised Prussia to this pitch of greatness by his talents as a legislator and general, assisted in the field and in the cabinet during a reign of 46 years by many distinguished men. The story of his wars would be a history, of Europe. But he was not alone a great commander. He encouraged agriculture, the arts, manufactures, and commerce, reformed the laws, increased the revenues, perfected the organization of his army, and thus improved the condition of the State. He died in Sans-Souci, Aug. 17, 1756, in the 75th year of his life, and the 47th of his reign, and left to his nephew, Frederick William II., a kingdom increased by 29,000 square miles, more than 70,000,000 Prussian dollars in the treasury an army of 200,000 men, great credit with all the European powers; and a State distinguished for population, industry, wealth, and science. Frederick the Great was an admirer of General Washington, whose abilities he perceived and did not hesitate to acknowledge - a fact which Americans will always remember. The present German emperor has presented to the United States a statue of Frederick the Great. The Teachers' and Pupils' Cyclopædia, Vol. II (Kansas City: Bufton Book Co., 1909) 675-676. |