Prince Heinrich Of Prussia

Prince Frederick Henry Ludwig of Prussia (German: Friedrich Heinrich Ludwig; born 18 January 1726 in Berlin – died 3 August 1802 at Rheinsberg Palace) was a member of the House of Hohenzollern, the son of King Frederick William I of Prussia and Princess Sophia Dorothea of Hanover. He was the younger brother of Frederick the Great, the King of Prussia.

He was the 13th child of his parents. In 1740, at the age of 14, he was appointed Colonel of the 35th Infanterieregiment by his father, shortly after Frederick William I ascended to the throne. This appointment marked the beginning of his military career, during which he participated in the first two Silesian Wars and the Seven Years' War, both conflicts involving Prussia in the 18th century. During the Seven Years' War, he remained undefeated in battle.

Throughout his military service, Prince Henry was known for his cautious approach to warfare. He achieved notable successes, including a decisive victory at the Battle of Freiberg in 1762, which contributed to the concluding victories of the war. His strategic decisions earned him recognition, particularly from his brother Frederick, who acknowledged his competence and seldom made mistakes in military operations where he was involved. Despite never winning a victory of the scale of Frederick's victories at Rossbach or Leuthen, Henry's avoidance of defeat contributed to Prussia's overall war effort.

Prince Henry also served as a diplomat and statesman. After the conclusion of the Seven Years' War, he participated in planning the First Partition of Poland, conducting diplomatic missions to Stockholm and Saint Petersburg. During the War of the Bavarian Succession, he commanded one of Prussia's main armies but saw limited action. In the 1780s, he undertook diplomatic visits to France, interacting with French political figures and maintaining friendships with persons such as Jean-Louis Favier.

In his personal life, Prince Henry married Princess Wilhelmina of Hesse-Kassel on 25 June 1752 at Charlottenburg Palace; the marriage produced no children. He resided at Rheinsberg Palace, which his brother Frederick had gifted him in 1744. Between 1748 and 1753, a grand palace was constructed for him in Berlin, which forms part of the current Humboldt University campus. He also maintained an apartment in the City Palace in Potsdam and was a regular presence at Frederick's court in Potsdam and Sanssouci.

Henry's personal relationships included close friendships and romantic involvements, notably with the actor Pierre-Jean Fromentin de Blainville and the French émigré Count La Roche-Aymon. He was also associated with Friedrich Adolf, Count von Kalckreuth, who was his adjutant and favorite from 1758 but fell out with him in 1766 over Henry's marriage. His longtime lover, Major von Kaphengst, was involved in lifestyle controversies and financial difficulties, and Henry notably sold paintings to fund debts incurred by Kaphengst.

Henry's aspirations included attempts to secure a principality and to become King of Poland, but these ambitions were thwarted by opposition from his brother Frederick. In 1786, he was proposed as a potential monarch of the United States, either by Nathaniel Gorham, then-President of the Continental Congress, or by Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, but he declined the offer.

Following Frederick the Great's death in 1786, Henry aimed to influence Prussian politics through his nephew, King Frederick William II. Later, he advised King Frederick William III during his reign starting in 1797. In his later years, he traveled to Paris in 1784 and 1788, visiting Versailles and engaging with French political circles.

Henry died on 3 August 1802 at Rheinsberg Palace at the age of 76.