Author: Frederick, King of Prussia
Biography:
FREDERICK, King of Prussia (1712-86: WBIS)
Henry James Pye's (q.v.) translation of The Art of War was, as Pye points out in his preface, its "first appearance in English dress"; it came out during the author's lifetime as a tribute from a militiaman to a renowned military strategist. As a foreign author, Frederick the Great can be given only summary treatment here. He was born in Berlin on 24 Jan. 1712 and christened Friedrich, the son and heir of Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm and his wife Sophia Dorothea of Hanover, sister of the future George I of England. In 1713 his father became King. Friedrich was educated by French tutors and always used French by preference in speaking and writing. Philosophy, literature, and music were his main interests: he played the flute and composed music, especially for that instrument; he cultivated the friendship of intellectuals (notably Voltaire) and was a patron of the arts; he wrote occasional poetry for pleasure. His other writings consist mainly of memoirs, history, and correspondence. In 1733 he made an arranged marriage with Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Beven (1715-97) but the couple spent little time together, had no children, and separated after he succeeded to the monarchy in 1740. Since he disliked court life, he left some of the ceremonial aspects of his position to her. Friedrich proved an exceptionably able tactitian and commander in the field. In the course of thirty years of aggressive campaigns, he recovered several Prussian states and consolidated them in one nation. Between 1745 and 1747 he had a modest summer palace, Sanssouci, built at Potsdam for recreation; the original French edition of The Art of War was composed there about 1749 and printed there in 1760. He died in his library at Sanssouci on 17 Aug. 1786, leaving directions that he should be buried with his greyhounds in a crypt that he had prepared for them, but his wishes were over-ruled and his remains were moved from place to place until 1991 when his body was laid to rest as he had intended. (Encyclopaedia Britannica [1911]; Wikipedia 9 Nov. 2021; WorldCat)
Other Names:
- Frederick III, King of Prussia
- the King of Prussia [Frederick the Great]