Prince William Of Hesse-Kassel

Prince William of Hesse-Kassel (24 December 1787 – 5 September 1867) was born in Biebrich. He was the first son of Prince Frederick of Hesse-Kassel and Princess Caroline of Nassau-Usingen. His paternal grandfather was Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel, and his paternal grandmother was Princess Mary of Great Britain.

He spent most of his life in Denmark, where he held various positions in the Danish military. From 1834 until 1848, he served as the military governor of Copenhagen. He resided in Prince William Mansion in Copenhagen and later in Brockdorff's Palace, which is part of Amalienborg Palace, the Danish royal family's official residence. The family used Charlottenlund Palace outside Copenhagen as a summer retreat.

He held part ownership of Rumpenheim Castle, a family estate that functioned as a meeting place for the Hesse-Kassel-Rumpenheim branch and hosted members of Danish, Hesse, British, and other royal families.

Landgrave William was actively involved in Danish political affairs, particularly regarding succession issues during the 1840s. Following the accession of his brother-in-law, Christian VIII, as King of Denmark in 1839, William and his wife Charlotte became prominent figures in Danish society.

He was known for his conservative views, as well as for his hospitality, honesty, loyalty, and generosity. William died in Copenhagen in 1867, a year after the annexation of Hesse-Kassel by Prussia. He was buried at Rumpenheim Castle.

On 10 November 1810, William married Princess Louise Charlotte of Denmark, daughter of Hereditary Prince Frederick of Denmark and Norway and Sophia Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Their children included:

- Karoline Friederike Marie of Hesse-Kassel (1811–1829)

- Princess Marie Luise Charlotte of Hesse-Kassel (1814–1895), who married Prince Frederick Augustus of Anhalt-Dessau

- Louise of Hesse-Kassel (1817–1898), who married King Christian IX of Denmark

- Friedrich Wilhelm (1820–1884), who became head of the House of Hesse-Kassel and married Grand Duchess Alexandra Nikolaievna of Russia, and later Anna of Prussia

- Auguste Sophie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel (1823–1889), who married Carl Frederik Blixen-Finecke

- Sophie Wilhelmine of Hesse-Kassel (1827)

He was the maternal grandfather of Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom, King Frederick VIII of Denmark, King George I of Greece, Empress Maria Feodorovna of Russia, and Grand Duchess Adelheid of Luxembourg. His paternal descendants include Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse, who was elected King of Finland in 1918 but declined the throne.

Prince William was part of the European royal and noble genealogies with connections to various prominent royal families.