n.
Dutch Willem Alexander Paul Frederik Lodewijk
born Feb. 19, 1817, Brussels, Belg.
died Nov. 23, 1890, Apeldoorn, Neth.
King of The Netherlands and grand duke of Luxembourg (184990).
Son of William II , he succeeded to the throne on his father's death in 1849. Opposed to the liberal constitution of 1848, he adopted an anti-Catholic posture and from 1862 to 1868 was able to rule through the cabinet. He tried to sell his sovereignty over Luxembourg to France (1867) but yielded to Prussia's demand that the area be independent. Following this crisis, his influence over parliament declined. On his death, he was succeeded by his daughter, Wilhelmina .