Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse Kassel

Frederick II was Landgrave of HesseKassel from 1760 to 1785. He ruled as an enlightened despot, and raised money by renting soldiers to Great Britain to help fight the American Revolutionary War. He combined Enlightenment ideas with Christian values, cameralist plans for central control of the economy, and a militaristic approach toward international diplomacy.

Frederick was born at Kassel in Hesse, the son of William VIII, Landgrave of HesseKassel and his wife Dorothea Wilhelmine of SaxeZeitz. His paternal grandfather was Charles I, Landgrave of HesseKassel, and his paternal uncle was Frederick I of Sweden. His education was initially entrusted to Colonel August Moritz von Donop and then from 1726 to 1733 to the Swiss theologian and philosopher, JeanPierre de Crousaz.

Source: Wikipedia