Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 20.djvu/620

* WILLIAM II. 528 WILLIAM I. laid upon his own autlioiity and divine right, he soon showed himself a very modern ruler, rest- lessly active and keeping in close touch with the world's affairs. One of his chief interests has been the cultivation of German industries and commerce, and the parallel development of the German navy to rank with that of the first naval Dowers. Soon after the beginning of his reign lie secured the passage by the Reichstag of a law providing for the compiilsoiT insurance of work- ingmen against disability arising from old age or infirmity, and he showed in other ways his keen interest in the welfare of the laboring classes. Of late he has, however, shown himself an uncompromising foe of socialism. He has been in hearty sympathy with the policy of co- lonial expansion in Africa. Educational matters have claimed much of his attention, and he has remodeled the curriculum in the higher schools of Pi-ussia. Feared as a 'war lord' at the be- ginning of his reign, lie has begun to show a pro- found sense of the value of international amity, and he has cultivated his cosmopolitan interests by frequent visits to foreign courts. In l'902. on the occasion of the launching of a yacht built for him in the United States, he sent his brother. Admiral Prince Henry of Prus- sia, to the United States as his representative and gave the visit international importance by his official attitude and his gifts to the American people. William married, February 27, 1881, Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonder- burg-Augustenburg, who was born October 22, 1858. Seven children were born to them. Freder- ick William, the Crown Prince, was born ilav C. 1882. Consult: Bigelow, The German Emperor (Lon- don, 1889), a personal study made at the begin- ning of William II.'s reign ; Frederic, The Young Emperor, ^yilliam II. of Germany (ib.. 1891). another early estimate by an American newspaper correspondent ; Lowe. The German Emperor, ^'i}- Uam II. (ib., 1896); Meister, Kaiser Wilhelm II. (Berlin, 1894) ; Lavisse, Trois empe>-ewrs d'Allemagne (Paris, 1888). WILLIAM I. (1772-1843). The first King of the Xctherlands. He was the son of William, the last Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic, and was born at The Hague, August 24. 1772. He com- manded tlie Dutch army in 1703-9.5 in the war with France, and after the conquest of his country he went to Berlin. His father in 1802 bestowed upon him the princi])ality of Fulda. with other districts, but they were taken from him in ISOG because of his refusal to join the Rhenish Con- federation. In the same year he succeeded to tbe hereditary possession of the House of Nassau- Dietz through the death of his father. He held a high commission in the Prussian army, was captured at .Jena, and ujion his release en- tered the Austrian service. After the battle of Wagram (1809) he went to Berlin, and in 1813 he returned to Holland, where be w^as received as le<.'itimate ruler by the people. In accordance with the act of the Congress of Vienna constituting Belgium and Holland the Kingdom of the Nether- lands, he was proclaimed ruler of the new kinjr- dom March 1(5, 1815. His hereditary possessions in Germany were transferred to Prussia, and he received in lieu thereof the Grand Diichy of IiU.xcmburg. Belgium revolted in 1830 and achieved its independence in 1832. King William protested ineffectually and obstinately refused to recognize the settlement, which was recognized by the Powers, provoking much bitter feeling. Final- ly he abdicated, October 7, 1840, took the title of Count of Nassau, went to Berlin, where he married the Countess d'Oultremont in 1841. and died December 12. 1843. His fir-t wife, whom he married in 1791, was Frederike Luise Wilhelmine, daughter of Frederick William II. of Prussia. WILLIAM II. (1792-1849). King of the Netherlands from 1840 to 1849. He was the son of King William I. and was born at The Hague, December 6, 1792. He studied at Berlin and Oxford, and in 1811 joined tlie English army in the Peninsular War. He served as adjutant and colonel on Wellinston's staff, distinguishing himself at Fuentes de Oiioro, Ciudad Rodrigo, and Badajoz. Salamanca, and Vitoria, and in the battles of the P.vrenees. On the return of the Orange family to the Netherlands, William I. made him commander of the army. The last campaign of Napoleon brought the Prince again into active service, and be was wounded at Quatre- Bras and AA'aterloo. Ho married, February 26, 1816, Anna Pavlovna. youngest sister of the Em- peror Alexander I. of Russia. When the Belgian Revolution broke out in 1830 he was called again into puldic life, and. as governor of the loyal districts, tried bv concessions to allay the storm. On the abdication of William L"(1840) the Prince of Orange assumed the reins of govern- ment as William II. The political movements of 1S48 were felt in the Netherlands, as in other countries, and the ministerial plans of reform not having satisfied the party of progress, the King an- nounced his willingness to sanction whatever changes in the Constitution were thought neces- sarv, and the storm was averted. The new Con- stitution was proclaimed November 3, 1848. Wil- liam II. died March 17, 1849. WILLIAM IIL (1817-90). King of the NetlicrlanJs from 1S49 to 1890. He was born at The Hague, February 19, 1817, and succeeded to the throne on the death of his father. William 11.. in 1849. He married, June 18, 1839, Princess Sophie of Wiirtteniliers. The kingdom enjoyed uninterrupted peace during his reiyn ; material prosperity increased, and the public debt was considerably reduced. By his first wife William had two sons, neither of whom survived him ; his second wife. Princess Emma of Waldeck, gave birth to a daughter. Wilhelmina. Who succeeded him as Queen. He died. November 23, 1890. His private life was not above reproach. Consult Line. ^VilUam III.. Kbniri der yiederlandc (Lux- emburg. 1889). WILLIAM I., FRiicnRim Wimielm K.^rl (1781-1864). King of Wiirtteniberg, born at Liiben, Silesia. His father became Frederick I., King of Wiirttemberc;. and his mother was the Princess Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenhiittel. In ISOO he entered the .istrian army as a vol- unteer, and distinixuislied liimsclf at the battle of Ilolicnlinilcn. llaviuir returned to Wiirtteni- berg in 1806. he lived at Stuttgart for six years, ami then took command of the Wiirtteniberg con- tingent in Russia against the advance of Na- poleon, but. on account of illness, was detained fiU' some time at Vilna. After the battle of Leipzig (1813) his father joined the Allies, and