Frederick William

generally called the Great Elector; born in 1620, and at the age of 20 years suceeded his father as Elector of Brandenburg. He is considered as the founder of Pru ian greatne . He made Pru ia free from feudal subjection to Poe land, conquered Pomerania, joined the League against Louis XI1V., and defeated the Swedes who invaded Pru ia in 1647. By affording protection to the French Protestant sefugees, he gained, as citizens of the State, 20,000 industrious manufacturers, and he also gave great encouragement to agricultural improvements, He founded the library at Berlin, and a university at Duisburg. He died in Potsdam, April 29, 1688.