OTD March 19th.1851 Frederick Francis III Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin

March 19th. 1851 marks the birth of Frederick Francis III. This
took place at the Ludwiglust Palace in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern,
Germany.

His parents were Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
and Princess Augusta of Reuss Köstritz.

Already from an early age, Frederick Francis III suffered from asthma.
He couldn't live in the north European climate. So he lived most of the time
in Cannes, France.

Anastasia and her children

There his homosexuality was an open secret. However, on January 24th. 1879
Frederick Francis III married Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of
Russia in St. Petersburg. They would have 3 children:

* Duchess Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, married King Christian X
of Denmark.

* Frederick Francis IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, married Princess Alexandra
of Hanover

* Duchess Cecile of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, married Wilhelm, Crown Prince of
Germany

On April 15th. 1883 Frederick Francis III became the new Grand Duke of
Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

On April 10th. 1897 Frederick Francis III, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
died under strange circumstances. His death even was surrounded by mystery.
According to official sources he had difficulties with breathing in his garden and he
fell down over a lower wall.

He was succeeded by his son Francis IV, who would become the last Grand Duke
of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

Source picture: Wikipedia