[50950]
See the unverified file MCRL-BPW in familysearch.org for other marriages; this file states Alexander is son of.Joshua Alley (1756-1817) & Hannah Brown (1760-1826; m. in 1777 in ME).
_Edward I ("Longshanks"), King of ENGLAND _+
| (1239 - 1307) m 1254
_Edward II, King of ENGLAND __________|_Eleanor of CASTILE _______________________
| (1284 - ....) m 1308 (.... - 1290)
_Edward III, King of ENGLAND ____________|
| (1312 - 1377) m 1328 |
| | _Philip IV "The Fair", King of FRANCE _____+
| | | (1268 - 1314) m 1284
| |_Isabella "The Fair" of FRANCE _______|_Jeanne (or Joanna), Queen of NAVARRE _____
| (1292 - 1358) m 1308 (1272 - 1305)
_John of GAUNT __________________|
| (1340 - 1399) m 1396 |
| | _John II of AVESNES _______________________+
| | | (1248 - 1304) m 1270
| | _William III ("the Good") of AVESNES _|_Philippa of LUXEMBOURG ___________________
| | | (1286 - 1337) m 1305 (1252 - 1311)
| |_Philippa of HAINAUT ____________________|
| (.... - 1369) m 1328 |
| | _Charles, Count of VALOIS _________________+
| | | (1270 - 1325) m 1290
| |_Joanna (or Jane) of VALOIS __________|_Margaret of NAPLES _______________________
| (.... - 1342) m 1305 (1273 - 1299)
_John BEAUFORT ______|
| (1372 - 1410) m 1397|
| | ___________________________________________
| | |
| | ______________________________________|___________________________________________
| | |
| | _Sir Paon DE ROëT ______________________|
| | | |
| | | | ___________________________________________
| | | | |
| | | |______________________________________|___________________________________________
| | |
| |_Katherine DE ROET ______________|
| (1350 - 1403) m 1396 |
| | ___________________________________________
| | |
| | ______________________________________|___________________________________________
| | |
| |_________________________________________|
| |
| | ___________________________________________
| | |
| |______________________________________|___________________________________________
|
|
|--John BEAUFORT
| (1403 - 1444)
| _Sir Robert DE HOLAND _____________________+
| |
| _Sir Robert DE HOLAND ________________|_Elizabeth DE SALMESBURY __________________
| | (1270 - 1328) (1256 - ....)
| _Thomas DE HOLAND _______________________|
| | (1314 - 1360) m 1339 |
| | | _Alan La ZOUCHE ___________________________+
| | | | (1267 - 1314)
| | |_Maud ZOUCHE _________________________|_Eleanor SEGRAVE __________________________
| | (1289 - 1341) (.... - 1314)
| _Thomas de Holand, Earl of KENT _|
| | (1354 - 1397) m 1370 |
| | | _Edward I ("Longshanks"), King of ENGLAND _+
| | | | (1239 - 1307) m 1299
| | | _Edmund "of Woodstock", Earl Of KENT _|_Marguerite of FRANCE _____________________
| | | | (1301 - 1330) m 1325 (1282 - 1317)
| | |_Joan ("Fair Maid of Kent") PLANTAGENET _|
| | (1328 - 1385) m 1339 |
| | | _John WAKE ________________________________+
| | | | (.... - 1300)
| | |_Margaret WAKE _______________________|_Joan DE FIENNES __________________________
| | (.... - 1349) m 1325 (.... - 1309)
|_Margaret HOLLAND ___|
(1380 - 1439) m 1397|
| _Richard Fitz ALAN ________________________+
| | (1267 - 1302)
| _Sir Edmund Fitz ALAN ________________|_Alasia DE SALUZZO ________________________
| | (1285 - 1326) m 1305 (1266 - 1292)
| _Sir Richard Fitz ALAN __________________|
| | (1306 - 1376) m 1345 |
| | | _William DE WARENNE _______________________+
| | | | (1256 - 1286) m 1285
| | |_Alice DE WARENNE ____________________|_Joan DE VERE _____________________________
| | (1287 - 1338) m 1305 (1264 - 1293)
|_Alice Fitz ALAN ________________|
(1350 - 1415) m 1370 |
| _Edmund ("Crouchback"), Earl of LANCASTER _+
| | (1245 - 1296) m 1276
| _Henry, Earl of LANCASTER ____________|_Blanche of Artois, Queen of NAVARRE ______
| | (1281 - 1345) m 1297 (.... - 1302)
|_Eleanor (de Lancaster) PLANTAGENET _____|
(.... - 1372) m 1345 |
| _Patrick Chaworth, Lord of KIDWELLEY ______+
| | (1253 - 1283)
|_Maud CHAWORTH _______________________|_Isabel DE BEAUCHAMP ______________________
(1282 - ....) m 1297 (1236 - ....)
[5359] John acceeded as Duke 27 Oct 1485 and was a Knight of the Garter. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Beaufort%2C_1st_Duke_of_Somerset
_____________________
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________________________|_____________________
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_____________________|
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| |________________________|_____________________
|
_____________________|
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| | ________________________|_____________________
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| |_____________________|
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| |________________________|_____________________
|
_Charles Franklin BURKE _|
| (1860 - 1941) m 1883 |
| | _____________________
| | |
| | ________________________|_____________________
| | |
| | _____________________|
| | | |
| | | | _____________________
| | | | |
| | | |________________________|_____________________
| | |
| |_____________________|
| |
| | _____________________
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| | ________________________|_____________________
| | |
| |_____________________|
| |
| | _____________________
| | |
| |________________________|_____________________
|
|
|--Irving BURKE
| (1892 - 1964)
| _Tristram PINKHAM ___+
| | m 1738
| _Tristram (Jr) PINKHAM _|_Martha HAYES _______
| | (1746 - 1825) m 1796
| _Thomas PINKHAM _____|
| | (1791 - 1860) m 1814|
| | | _Thomas LEIGHTON ____+
| | | | (1725 - 1813) m 1742
| | |_Annie LEIGHTON ________|_Margaret MURRAY ____
| | (1747 - 1825) m 1796 (1727 - 1773)
| _Isaac West PINKHAM _|
| | (1830 - 1899) m 1854|
| | | _____________________
| | | |
| | | _Thomas WEST ___________|_____________________
| | | | (1754 - 1842)
| | |_Margaret WEST ______|
| | (1794 - 1875) m 1814|
| | | _Thomas LEIGHTON ____+
| | | | (1725 - 1813) m 1742
| | |_Mary LEIGHTON _________|_Margaret MURRAY ____
| | (1762 - 1855) (1727 - 1773)
|_Rhoda Sophia PINKHAM ___|
(1861 - 1936) m 1883 |
| _____________________
| |
| ________________________|_____________________
| |
| _____________________|
| | |
| | | _____________________
| | | |
| | |________________________|_____________________
| |
|_Berthiah Lucy WEST _|
(1833 - 1912) m 1854|
| _____________________
| |
| ________________________|_____________________
| |
|_____________________|
|
| _____________________
| |
|________________________|_____________________
[59160]
The unverified file 9JVF-C18 in familysearch offers: When Irving Burke was born on 12 March 1892, in Milbridge, Washington, Maine, United States, his father, Charles Franklin Burke, was 31 and his mother, Rhoda Sophia Pinkham, was 30. He married Mary Jane Colson on 23 October 1915, in Milbridge, Washington, Maine, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 3 daughters. He lived in Steuben, Washington, Maine, United States in 1918. In 1950, at the age of 58, his occupation is listed as weir fisherman - sardines in Milbridge, Washington, Maine, United States. He died on 29 October 1964, in Milbridge, Washington, Maine, United States, at the age of 72, and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Milbridge, Washington, Maine, United States.
_Crinan (Grimus) The THANE ____________________________
| (0978 - 1045)
_Maldred of ALLERDALE _______________|_Bethóc ingen Maíl Coluim meic Cináeda of SCOTLAND _
| (.... - 1045)
_Maldred of WINLATON _|
| |
| | _Uchtred ("the Bold") of NORTHUMBERLAND _______________+
| | | (.... - 1016)
| |_Ealdgyth (Ælfgifu) of NORTHUMBRIA _|_______________________________________________________
|
_Uchtred Fitz Maldred, Lord of RABY _|
| |
| | _______________________________________________________
| | |
| | _____________________________________|_______________________________________________________
| | |
| |______________________|
| |
| | _______________________________________________________
| | |
| |_____________________________________|_______________________________________________________
|
_Dolphin ("Dolfin"), Lord of STAINDROPSHIRE _|
| (.... - 1131) |
| | _______________________________________________________
| | |
| | _____________________________________|_______________________________________________________
| | |
| | ______________________|
| | | |
| | | | _______________________________________________________
| | | | |
| | | |_____________________________________|_______________________________________________________
| | |
| |_____________________________________|
| |
| | _______________________________________________________
| | |
| | _____________________________________|_______________________________________________________
| | |
| |______________________|
| |
| | _______________________________________________________
| | |
| |_____________________________________|_______________________________________________________
|
|
|--Sir Patric Fitz DOLPHIN
|
| _______________________________________________________
| |
| _____________________________________|_______________________________________________________
| |
| ______________________|
| | |
| | | _______________________________________________________
| | | |
| | |_____________________________________|_______________________________________________________
| |
| _____________________________________|
| | |
| | | _______________________________________________________
| | | |
| | | _____________________________________|_______________________________________________________
| | | |
| | |______________________|
| | |
| | | _______________________________________________________
| | | |
| | |_____________________________________|_______________________________________________________
| |
|_Adilicia ___________________________________|
|
| _______________________________________________________
| |
| _____________________________________|_______________________________________________________
| |
| ______________________|
| | |
| | | _______________________________________________________
| | | |
| | |_____________________________________|_______________________________________________________
| |
|_____________________________________|
|
| _______________________________________________________
| |
| _____________________________________|_______________________________________________________
| |
|______________________|
|
| _______________________________________________________
| |
|_____________________________________|_______________________________________________________
[11752] Patric had (per one record) Sir William de Hertburn, b. ca. 1180.
_William DYER _______+
| (1663 - 1738) m 1686
_William J. DYER ____|_Mary TAYLOR ________
| (1690 - ....) m 1709 (1660 - 1738)
_Christopher DYER ___|
| (1722 - 1759) m 1741|
| | _Christopher STROUT _
| | | (.... - 1714) m 1680
| |_Hannah STROUT ______|_Sarah PICKE ________
| m 1709
_Nathaniel DYER _____|
| (1750 - 1823) m 1771|
| | _Francis SMALL ______+
| | | m 1679
| | _Joseph SMALL _______|_Elizabeth HICKS ____
| | | (1696 - 1773)
| |_Mercy SMALL ________|
| (1724 - 1803) m 1741|
| | _____________________
| | |
| |_____________________|_____________________
|
_Michael DYER _______|
| (1780 - 1859) m 1800|
| | _William DYER _______+
| | | (1663 - 1738) m 1686
| | _Jonathan DYER ______|_Mary TAYLOR ________
| | | (1692 - ....) m 1718 (1660 - 1738)
| | _Micah DYER _________|
| | | (1728 - 1797) m 1749|
| | | | _William BROWN ______+
| | | | | (1670 - 1769) m 1699
| | | |_Susannah BROWN _____|_Susannah HARDING ___
| | | (1700 - ....) m 1718 (1675 - 1769)
| |_Hannah DYER ________|
| (1755 - 1815) m 1771|
| | _____________________
| | |
| | _John MARRINER ______|_____________________
| | | (1682 - 1748) m 1725
| |_Hannah MARINER _____|
| (1730 - 1797) m 1749|
| | _Joseph VAUGHAN _____+
| | | (1654 - 1734) m 1680
| |_Mary VAUGHAN _______|_Joanna THOMAS ______
| (1694 - ....) m 1725 (.... - 1718)
|
|--Gardner DYER
| (1808 - 1891)
| _William DYER _______+
| | (1663 - 1738) m 1686
| _William J. DYER ____|_Mary TAYLOR ________
| | (1690 - ....) m 1709 (1660 - 1738)
| _Christopher DYER ___|
| | (1722 - 1759) m 1741|
| | | _Christopher STROUT _
| | | | (.... - 1714) m 1680
| | |_Hannah STROUT ______|_Sarah PICKE ________
| | m 1709
| _Christopher DYER ___|
| | m 1772 |
| | | _Francis SMALL ______+
| | | | m 1679
| | | _Joseph SMALL _______|_Elizabeth HICKS ____
| | | | (1696 - 1773)
| | |_Mercy SMALL ________|
| | (1724 - 1803) m 1741|
| | | _____________________
| | | |
| | |_____________________|_____________________
| |
|_Phebe DYER _________|
(1781 - 1824) m 1800|
| _Stephen RANDALL ____+
| | (.... - 1740) m 1697
| _Stephen RANDALL ____|_Abigail SABIN ______
| | (1704 - 1749) m 1725 (1678 - 1735)
| _Stephen RANDALL ____|
| | (1726 - 1797) m 1750|
| | | _John SAWYER ________+
| | | | (1676 - 1760) m 1701
| | |_Mary SAWYER ________|_Rebeckah STANFORD __
| | (1706 - 1796) m 1725 (1677 - 1755)
|_Hannah RANDALL _____|
m 1772 |
| _____________________
| |
| _____________________|_____________________
| |
|_Deborah SAWYER _____|
(1725 - ....) m 1750|
| _____________________
| |
|_____________________|_____________________
_Samuel GRAY ___________+
| (1750 - 1843)
_Joseph GRAY _________|_Mercy WATSON __________
| (1767 - 1844) m 1797 (.... - 1828)
_Elliot GRAY ________|
| (1812 - 1874) |
| | _Reuben GRINDLE ________+
| | | (1757 - 1835)
| |_Anna GRINDLE ________|_Hannah LOWELL _________
| (1779 - 1847) m 1797 (.... - 1802)
_James Elliot GRAY _____|
| (1844 - 1917) m 1867 |
| | ________________________
| | |
| | ______________________|________________________
| | |
| |_Martha G. COUSINS __|
| (1816 - 1889) |
| | ________________________
| | |
| |______________________|________________________
|
_Caleb Atwater GRAY _|
| (1881 - 1966) m 1904|
| | ________________________
| | |
| | ______________________|________________________
| | |
| | _Joseph Wicks PATCH _|
| | | (1811 - ....) m 1834|
| | | | ________________________
| | | | |
| | | |______________________|________________________
| | |
| |_Emma Carolyn PATCH ____|
| (1840 - 1918) m 1867 |
| | ________________________
| | |
| | ______________________|________________________
| | |
| |_Nancy Eliza LANK ___|
| (1809 - 1891) m 1834|
| | ________________________
| | |
| |______________________|________________________
|
|
|--Norma Hortense GRAY
| (1921 - 1998)
| _Reuben (Jr.) GRAY _____+
| | (1762 - 1858)
| _Solomon GRAY ________|_Sarah Goodwin HERRICK _
| | (1783 - 1873) m 1806 (1766 - 1846)
| _Leonard I. GRAY ____|
| | (1827 - 1906) |
| | | ________________________
| | | |
| | |_Betsy Black FREETHY _|________________________
| | (1784 - 1873) m 1806
| _Luther W. GRAY ________|
| | (1858 - 1927) |
| | | ________________________
| | | |
| | | _James D. GRAY _______|________________________
| | | | (1805 - 1892)
| | |_Hannah W. GRAY _____|
| | (1834 - 1898) |
| | | ________________________
| | | |
| | |_Sarah WEBBER ________|________________________
| | (1805 - 1893)
|_Mildred O. GRAY ____|
(1884 - 1967) m 1904|
| ________________________
| |
| ______________________|________________________
| |
| _____________________|
| | |
| | | ________________________
| | | |
| | |______________________|________________________
| |
|_Abbie Blanche CANDAGE _|
(1862 - 1957) |
| ________________________
| |
| ______________________|________________________
| |
|_____________________|
|
| ________________________
| |
|______________________|________________________
[44544] "The Bangor Daily News [Bangor, Maine]," 19 June 1999, p. 22: "Blue Hill - Norma H. Hooper, 77, died Nov. 5, 1998 at an Ellsworth hospital. She was born July 8, 1921 in West Sedgwick, the daughter of Caleb A. and Mildred O. (Gray) Gray. Norma was a member of Halcyon Grange of North Blue Hill. She is survived by her husband, Cecil I. Hooper; one son, Gilbert H. Hooper of Blue Hill; one sister, Vivian Carter of Sedgwick; five grandchildren, three greatgrandchildren. She was predeceased by a son, Gerald R. Hooper."
_Daniel MOULTON _____+
| m 1721
_Noah MOULTON _______|_Phebe PHILBRICK ____
| (1826 - ....) m 1749 (1701 - ....)
_John MOULTON _______|
| (.... - 1849) |
| | _____________________
| | |
| |_Patience LOCKE _____|_____________________
| (1730 - 1814) m 1749
_Robert Richardson MOULTON _|
| (1809 - 1862) |
| | _____________________
| | |
| | _____________________|_____________________
| | |
| |_____________________|
| |
| | _____________________
| | |
| |_____________________|_____________________
|
_Orrin D. MOULTON ___|
| (1836 - 1899) m 1862|
| | _____________________
| | |
| | _____________________|_____________________
| | |
| | _____________________|
| | | |
| | | | _____________________
| | | | |
| | | |_____________________|_____________________
| | |
| |____________________________|
| |
| | _____________________
| | |
| | _____________________|_____________________
| | |
| |_____________________|
| |
| | _____________________
| | |
| |_____________________|_____________________
|
|
|--Charles Prescott MOULTON
| (1881 - 1972)
| _____________________
| |
| _____________________|_____________________
| |
| _____________________|
| | |
| | | _____________________
| | | |
| | |_____________________|_____________________
| |
| ____________________________|
| | |
| | | _____________________
| | | |
| | | _____________________|_____________________
| | | |
| | |_____________________|
| | |
| | | _____________________
| | | |
| | |_____________________|_____________________
| |
|_Emma L. THOMPSON ___|
(.... - 1914) m 1862|
| _____________________
| |
| _____________________|_____________________
| |
| _____________________|
| | |
| | | _____________________
| | | |
| | |_____________________|_____________________
| |
|____________________________|
|
| _____________________
| |
| _____________________|_____________________
| |
|_____________________|
|
| _____________________
| |
|_____________________|_____________________
__________________________________________
|
_George William, Elector of BRANDENBURG _____________|__________________________________________
| (1595 - 1640) m 1616
_Frederick William, Elector of BRANDENBURG ___|
| (1620 - 1688) m 1646 |
| | _Frederick IV, Elector PALATINE __________
| | | (1574 - 1610)
| |_Elisabeth Charlotte of the PALATINATE ______________|_Louise Juliana VON ORANGE-NASSAU ________
| (1597 - 1660) m 1616
_Friedrich I, King of PRUSSIA ____________|
| (1657 - 1713) m 1684 |
| | _William "The Silent", Prince of ORANGE __+
| | | (1533 - 1584)
| | _Frederick Henry, Prince of ORANGE __________________|_Louise DE COLIGNY _______________________
| | | (1583 - 1647)
| |_Louise Henrietta of ORANGE __________________|
| (1627 - 1667) m 1646 |
| | __________________________________________
| | |
| |_Amalie zu SOLMS-BRAUNFELS __________________________|__________________________________________
| (1602 - 1675)
_Friedrich Wilhelm I, King of PRUSSIA _|
| (1688 - 1740) m 1706 |
| | _Wilhelm GUELPH __________________________+
| | | (1535 - 1592) m 1561
| | _George, Duke of BRUNSWICK-LüNEBURG ________________|_Dorothea OLDENBURG ______________________
| | | (1582 - 1641) m 1617 (1546 - 1617)
| | _Ernest Augustus, Elector of HANOVER _________|
| | | (1629 - 1698) m 1658 |
| | | | _Ludwig V (Landgrave) of HESSE-DARMSTADT _+
| | | | | (1577 - 1626)
| | | |_Anna Eleonore of HESSE-DARMSTADT ___________________|_Magdalena HOHENZOLLERN __________________
| | | (1601 - 1659) m 1617 (1582 - 1616)
| |_Sophie Charlotte of HANOVER _____________|
| (1668 - 1705) m 1684 |
| | _Frederick IV WITTELSBACH ________________+
| | | (1574 - 1610)
| | _Frederick V WITTELSBACH ____________________________|_Louise Juliana of ORANGE-NASSAU _________
| | | (1596 - 1632) m 1613 (1576 - 1644)
| |_Sophia Hanover of BOHEMIA ___________________|
| (1630 - 1714) m 1658 |
| | _James (I) STUART ________________________+
| | | (1566 - 1625) m 1589
| |_Elizabeth STUART ___________________________________|_Anne, Princess of DENMARK _______________
| (1596 - 1662) m 1613 (1574 - 1619)
|
|--Frederick II, King of PRUSSIA
| (1712 - 1786)
| _Wilhelm GUELPH __________________________+
| | (1535 - 1592) m 1561
| _George, Duke of BRUNSWICK-LüNEBURG ________________|_Dorothea OLDENBURG ______________________
| | (1582 - 1641) m 1617 (1546 - 1617)
| _Ernest Augustus, Elector of HANOVER _________|
| | (1629 - 1698) m 1658 |
| | | _Ludwig V (Landgrave) of HESSE-DARMSTADT _+
| | | | (1577 - 1626)
| | |_Anna Eleonore of HESSE-DARMSTADT ___________________|_Magdalena HOHENZOLLERN __________________
| | (1601 - 1659) m 1617 (1582 - 1616)
| _George (Louis) I, King of Great BRITAIN _|
| | (1660 - 1727) m 1682 |
| | | _Frederick IV WITTELSBACH ________________+
| | | | (1574 - 1610)
| | | _Frederick V WITTELSBACH ____________________________|_Louise Juliana of ORANGE-NASSAU _________
| | | | (1596 - 1632) m 1613 (1576 - 1644)
| | |_Sophia Hanover of BOHEMIA ___________________|
| | (1630 - 1714) m 1658 |
| | | _James (I) STUART ________________________+
| | | | (1566 - 1625) m 1589
| | |_Elizabeth STUART ___________________________________|_Anne, Princess of DENMARK _______________
| | (1596 - 1662) m 1613 (1574 - 1619)
|_Sophie Dorothea of Great BRITAIN _____|
(1687 - 1757) m 1706 |
| _Wilhelm GUELPH __________________________+
| | (1535 - 1592) m 1561
| _George, Duke of BRUNSWICK-LüNEBURG ________________|_Dorothea OLDENBURG ______________________
| | (1582 - 1641) m 1617 (1546 - 1617)
| _George William, Duke of BRUNSWICK-LüNEBURG _|
| | (1624 - 1705) |
| | | _Ludwig V (Landgrave) of HESSE-DARMSTADT _+
| | | | (1577 - 1626)
| | |_Anna Eleonore of HESSE-DARMSTADT ___________________|_Magdalena HOHENZOLLERN __________________
| | (1601 - 1659) m 1617 (1582 - 1616)
|_Sophia Dorothea of BRUNSWICK ____________|
(1666 - 1726) m 1682 |
| _Alexandre DESMIER _______________________+
| | m 1605
| _Alexandre DESMIER __________________________________|_Marie BAUDOUIN __________________________
| | (1608 - 1660) m 1631
|_Eleanor Desmier DOLBREUSE _________________|
(1639 - 1722) |
| _Joachim POUSSARD ________________________+
| |
|_Jacquette Poussard du Bas-Vandré et DE SAINT-MARC _|_Susan GAILLARD __________________________
m 1631
FREDERICK THE GREAT (1712-86; ruled 1740-86). The boy who was to become a great military leader and king of Prussia began his career hating the life of a soldier. Frederick II was born 24 January 1712, in Berlin. His father was King Frederick William I. His mother was Princess Sophia Dorothea of Hanover, sister of George II of England.
Frederick's father insisted on a practical, military education for his son. The boy preferred music, art, and literature. He rebelled against tobacco, drinking, and hunting, which his father believed were natural pleasures of royalty. The king forbade the prince's tutors to teach him Latin, but he studied it and the classics in secret.
As Frederick became older, the relationship between father and son grew worse. Frederick's mother and his sister Wilhelmina sided with him against his father. This further enraged the stubborn king, who cared for nothing except the state of Prussia. He was horrified by the thought that this youth would one day be king and might wreck Prussia by his incompetence. He became more and more severe with his son, hitting him in public and even beating him with a cane in front of army troops.
When Frederick was 18 years old, he tried to escape the tyranny of his father by running away. Caught before he crossed the border, he was locked in solitary confinement for a time. From a window of his cell he was forced to watch the execution of his closest friend, who had accompanied him in his flight. For a time the cruel king even thought of putting his son to death as a military deserter.
After this incident young Frederick was changed. He became ruthless, crafty, and cynical. He now began training to succeed his father. Gradually the old king gave his son ever greater responsibilities. In 1733, under orders of his father, Frederick married Princess Elizabeth Christina, daughter of the duke of Brunswick-Bevern.
When he came to the throne at the age of 28, Frederick had a keen mind, a strong character, and an ambition that soon engulfed Europe in war. He was to
rule for 46 years, from 1740 to 1786. The first 23 years were devoted chiefly to warfare; the second, to peace and recovery. During the first half of his reign Frederick proved that as a soldier he had no equal. His last 23 years of rule showed that he was one of the enlightened despots of the 1700s. Frederick II worked hard. He acted as his own prime minister and treated his advisers as clerks. Yet, in his few leisure hours he wrote poetry and history. Once he invited the French philosopher Voltaire to his Potsdam palace of Sans Souci. The two soon quarreled, however. (See also Voltaire.)
Immediately after he had become king, Frederick acted on his own advice: "Take what you can; you are never wrong unless you are obliged to give it back." He seized the rich Austrian province of Silesia, which plunged most of Europe into war (see Seven Years' War). It was in this series of struggles, which lasted for more than 20 years, that Frederick's military genius won him the title "The Great." Later he annexed West Prussia through the first partition of Poland.
During the first half of his rule Frederick truly made war the "national industry" of his country. His aggressive campaigns transformed Prussia from a minor state into a major power and nearly doubled the country's size by conquest and by diplomacy. Once he had satisfied his territorial ambitions Frederick undertook great public works and encouraged education, industry, and immigration. Frederick the Great died on Aug. 17, 1786, on the eve of the French Revolution, an event that shook forever the power of kings. Thus he was the last great absolute monarch in Western Europe.