George I (6 May 1747 – 9 September 1813) was Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont from 1812 to 1813.

Life

Born May 6, 1747. He was the son of Karl August, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont and Countess Palatine Christiane Henriette of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld. Like his brother Friedrich, he was also educated in Switzerland, became a colonel in the Austrian service in 1778 and a major general in the infantry in 1783. After he got married in 1784, he lived in Switzerland, but later moved to Rhoden, whereupon his brother ceded the county of Pyrmont to him on October 25, 1805, which he ruled independently since then as Prince of Pyrmont, being there at the same time in 1806 resided until he became Prince of Waldeck after his brother Friedrich died on September 24, 1812. He was well received by Emperor Napoleon, with whom he met in Warsaw along with his brother Friedrich. He valued arts and sciences and founded a coin collection, which is said to be particularly outstanding for its ancient Greek coins.

Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont

The principality was divided 1805, Pyrmont was given to George, and his brother Friedrich Karl August stayed with Waldeck. In 1807, Waldeck joined the Confederation of the Rhine. After the death of his brother in 1812, George took over the government in Waldeck.

Marriage and children

He married Princess Augusta of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen (1 February 1768 – 26 December 1849), daughter of August II, Prince of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen and Princess Christine of Anhalt-Bernburg, in Otterwisch on 12 September 1784. They had nine sons and four daughters: Augusta survived her husband by 36 years, living as a widow in Arolsen Castle. She died on 26 December 1849 aged 81, and was buried in Rhoden at Schloss Rhoden alongside her husband.

Ancestry

Notes and sources