born Nov. 1, 1778, Stockholm, Swed.
died Feb. 7, 1837, Sankt Gallen, Switz.
King of Sweden (1800–09).
Son of the assassinated Gustav III , he came to the throne in 1792 under the regency of his uncle Charles, duke of Södermanland (later Charles XIII ). In 1805 Gustav brought Sweden into the European coalition against Napoleon . When Russia joined with France in 1807, Gustav remained in the field, though he knew it would mean a Russian attack on Finland. Denmark-Norway also declared war on Sweden, causing the loss of additional territory. In 1809 Gustav was overthrown in a coup, and his heirs were declared ineligible to succeed him. He and his family left Sweden for exile, settling in Switzerland.