Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg

Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (23 February 1708 – 5 June 1752) was a member of the Strelitz branch of the House of Mecklenburg. He was the father to Charlotte, Queen of the United Kingdom and Hanover and Adolphus Frederick IV, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. He was styled as the Prince of Mirow. He was not a reigning Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, unlike his father and son. Life Charles was born in Strelitz, the second son and youngest child of Adolphus Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. His mother, Princess Christiane Emilie of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, was the third wife of his father. Charles had one half-brother and one surviving half-sister, the children of his father's first marriage. He also had one full sister at the time of his birth, but she died as an infant when Charles was less than one year old. Charles's father died when he was only three months old. His half-brother succeeded their father as Adolphus Frederick III, whereas Charles, as the younger son, inherited the commanderies of Mirow and Nemerow. Charles's mother retired to the estate of Mirow upon the death of her husband, and Charles was raised there. He later attended the University of Greifswald in Pomerania.