Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Succession
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==Succession== |
==Succession== |
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In 1772 his father died, and Ernest inherited the duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. As a liberal and enlightened prince, he was interested in the arts and sciences and used his reign to further them. He promoted the educational system, the economy, theatre, art collections and libraries as well as the natural sciences in his duchy, which was thereby ranked in the top place of the Saxon duchies in Thuringia. Privately, he was particularly interested in astronomy and physics. He appointed competent specialists in all of these areas like the mechanic and clockmaker [[Johann Andreas Klindworth]] to whom he granted the title of court mechanic.{{cite book|last=Lichtenberg|first=Georg Christoph|title=Schriften und Briefe: Kommentar zu Band I und II|year=1992|publisher=Hanser Verlag|isbn=3-446-11971-X|pages=432|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PLrhemNdpxoC&q=Klindworth|language=de}} |
In 1772, his father died, and Ernest inherited the duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. As a liberal and enlightened prince, he was interested in the arts and sciences and used his reign to further them. He promoted the educational system, the economy, theatre, art collections and libraries as well as the natural sciences in his duchy, which was thereby ranked in the top place of the Saxon duchies in Thuringia. Privately, he was particularly interested in astronomy and physics. He appointed competent specialists in all of these areas like the mechanic and clockmaker [[Johann Andreas Klindworth]] to whom he granted the title of court mechanic.{{cite book|last=Lichtenberg|first=Georg Christoph|title=Schriften und Briefe: Kommentar zu Band I und II|year=1992|publisher=Hanser Verlag|isbn=3-446-11971-X|pages=432|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PLrhemNdpxoC&q=Klindworth|language=de}} |
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For his special interests, he employed the services of the important astronomer [[Franz Xaver von Zach]] for Gotha. With him, he established the [[Observatory of Gotha]] (''Sternwarte Gotha''), which developed into a European centre of astronomy. His will stated that this institution should survive as the only visible indication of his existence. It was so successful that Gotha, despite its size, was thought of as a place that important people of the time should visit. One such person was [[Goethe]], who visited several times. |
For his special interests, he employed the services of the important astronomer [[Franz Xaver von Zach]] for Gotha. With him, he established the [[Observatory of Gotha]] (''Sternwarte Gotha''), which developed into a European centre of astronomy. His will stated that this institution should survive as the only visible indication of his existence. It was so successful that Gotha, despite its size, was thought of as a place that important people of the time should visit. One such person was [[Goethe]], who visited several times. |
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Under the influence of the [[French Revolution]], he wanted to abdicate and emigrate to [[Switzerland]] or the [[United States]], for which purpose he had his court officials acquire land in the [[Montgomery, Ohio|Montgomery]] area in [[Ohio]] and commissioned [[Joseph Ramée]] to design a country house in 1796. Ultimately, however, he remained in Gotha. |
Under the influence of the [[French Revolution]], he wanted to abdicate and emigrate to [[Switzerland]] or the [[United States]], for which purpose he had his court officials acquire land in the [[Montgomery, Ohio|Montgomery]] area in [[Ohio]] and commissioned [[Joseph Ramée]] to design a country house in 1796. Ultimately, however, he remained in Gotha. |
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In 1790, Ernest was appointed knight of the [[Order of the Garter]]. Due to his [[Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha|aunt's]] marriage with [[Frederick, Prince of Wales]], in 1736, he was a cousin of [[George III|King George III]]. The formal investiture took place in April 1791 |
In 1790, Ernest was appointed knight of the [[Order of the Garter]]. Due to his [[Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha|aunt's]] marriage with [[Frederick, Prince of Wales]], in 1736, he was a cousin of [[George III|King George III]]. The formal investiture took place in April 1791 at [[Friedenstein Palace]]. After Ernest's death, the insignia were handed back to the order in 1804.{{Cite book |last=Hefter |first=Marian |title=Verhandeltes Zeremoniell. Wissen und Normen am Gothaer Fürstenhof (1640-1800) |publisher=Böhlau Verlag |year=2026 |isbn=978-3-412-53491-2 |series=Norm und Struktur 55 |location=Cologne |pages=459–491 |language=de}} |
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==Freemasonry== |
==Freemasonry== |
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