General Notes

Leopold I (of Belgium) (1790-1865), king of the Belgians (1831-65). The son of
Francis Frederick, duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Leopold was born in Coburg,
Germany; he was originally named Georges Chrétien Frédéric. As a youth during
the Napoleonic Wars, Leopold fought in the Russian army. In 1816 he married
Princess Charlotte Augusta, daughter of Prince George, later King George IV of
Great Britain. In 1830 Leopold refused the Greek throne but the following year
was elected the first monarch of Belgium after that country was separated from
the Netherlands. The first eight years of his reign were marked by differences
with the Dutch that were settled in 1839 by a treaty reaffirming the
neutrality of Belgium. The remainder of his reign was marked by peaceful
development of the country. He was succeeded by Leopold II, a son by his
second marriage in 1832 to Louise d'Orléans, daughter of Louis Philippe, king
of France.