Karl II of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (October 10, 1741 - November 6, 1816) was first duke, then grand duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

Born in Mirow, he was the son of Prince Karl I of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Elisabeth Albertine of Saxony-Hildburghausen (born as princess of Saxony-Hildburghausen). At first he served as a Lieutenant General in the Hanoverian army. He later became governor of Hanover under his brother-in-law George III.

After his uncle Adolf Friedrich III died without any male descendants in 1752, Karl's older brother Adolf Friedrich IV became Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. After he died childless in 1794, Karl II inherited the post.

Karl II encouraged new agricultural trends, established a new police force, and implemented compulsory education. In 1806, his duchy joined the Confederation of the Rhine. At the Congress of Vienna in 1816 his title was elevated, making him a grand duke.

Karl married twice: first, to Friederike Caroline Luise of Hesse-Darmstadt, daughter of Prince Georg Wilhelm of Hesse-Darmstadt. They had ten children together. After she died in 1782, he married her sister Charlotte in 1784. She died in the following year, whilst giving birth to their son, Karl Friedrich August of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

Karl died on November 6, 1816 in Neustrelitz and was succeeded by his son Georg.

References

1741 births | 1816 deaths | Dukes of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Karl II. (Mecklenburg-Strelitz) | Karel II van Mecklenburg-Strelitz