FREDERICK WILLIAM IV

King of Pru ia, son of Frederick William III, was born 1795, died 1861. He was carefully trained by the best masters in all the leading branches of knowledge and art, civil and military. He took part, though without any active command, in the campaigns of 1813 and 1814. When he succeeded to the throne on the death of his father in 1840, his first proceedings were both of a popular and praiseworthy character. He soon, however, began to pursue a retrograde and absolutist policy. The popular movement which followed the French revolution of 1848 was at first met by the king with firmne , but on the demand of the people that the troops should be withdrawn from the capital, backed by an attack on the arsenal, the king offered conce ions, which, however, as soon as he felt himself strong enough to do so, he retracted. Afterwards his mind gave way, and he sank into a state of hopele imbecility, which rendered it nece ary to appoint his brother William regent of the kingdom. He died without i ue, and was succeeded by his brother, who ten years later became emperor of united Germany.