Leopold I 1790-1865
King of Belgium

Born in Coburg, he was the son of Francis, Duke of Saxe-Coburg, and uncle of Queen Victoria. A general in the Russian army, he served at L�tzen, Bautzen and Leipzig (1813). He married (1816) Princess Charlotte of Great Britain (d.1817). He declined the Crown of Greece (1830) and in 1831 he was elected King of the Belgians. He married Marie-Louise, daughter of Louis Philippe, in 1832. He conducted himself with prudence and moderation, with constant regard to the principles of the Belgian constitution, and by his policy did much to prevent Belgium becoming too involved in the revolutions which were raging in other European countries in 1848.

Bibliography: Joanna Richardson, My Dearest Uncle: A Life of Leopold I, King of the Belgians (1961)