FRECHETTE - FREDERICK II
on June 7, 1826. His early training was that of a glass-polisher, being apprenticed at the age of twelve. His chief accomplishments, perhaps, are the invention of the diffraction-grating (See Diffraction-Grating); the discovery of the dark absorption lines in the solar spectrum, now known as Fraunhofer's lines; the discovery that the stars have spectra of the same general type as the sun but different from that of the sun; and a general discussion of the phenomena of diffraction.
His most important papers have been edited and reprinted by Professor Ames in Harper's Scientific Memoirs.
Frechette (frā′ shĕt′), Louis, LL. D., president of the Royal Society of Canada and member of numerous literary and learned societies, was born at Levis, Quebec, on Nov. 16, 1839. He was educated at Laval University and Nicolet College, was called to the bar in 1864, afterward removing to Chicago and living there until the great fire of 1871. He divided his attention between law and editing Le Journal of Quebec and La Patrie of Montreal, representing Levis in Parliament in 1874, until in 1889 he became clerk of the legislative council of the province of Quebec. His publications are numerous and met with appreciation. In addition he made translations in French of the works of Howells and Cable and of several dramas and comedies. He died on May 31, 1908.
Fred′erick I, called Barbarossa or Red-Beard, was born about 1123, and became emperor of Germany in 1152. His reign was a long struggle with powerful vassals at home and with Lombardy and the pope in Italy. He captured Milan in, 1162, and took Rome by storm five years later. His army was, however, smitten with the plague, and Lombardy again revolted; and in 1176 he was defeated at Legnano. At home he managed his vassals by conciliation and by keeping the balance of power among them equal. He asserted his power, moreover, over Poland, Hungary, Denmark and Burgundy. At the height of his fame and influence he took the cross to fight against Saladin. He defeated the Mohammedans in two battles, but was himself drowned in Pisidia on June 10, 1190. The legends and songs of Germany still cling about the memory of Frederick Barbarossa.
Frederick III, second German emperor and eighth king of Prussia, was born at Potsdam, Oct. 18, 1831, and was in early life educated to the profession of arms. After leaving Bonn University he studied the art of war under Moltke. In January, 1858, he married the princess-royal of England. He took a prominent part in the War with Austria and in the Franco-Prussian War; for his services in the latter campaign he was made a field-marshal. In 1887 he showed signs of suffering from a throat trouble, and was operated upon in February, 1888, without success. On the 9th of March Emperor William I died, and Frederick ascended the throne as Frederick III. His throat continued to trouble him, and, despite all that medical science could do for him, he died on June 15, 1888.
Frederick I, king of Prussia and third elector of Brandenburg of that name, was born at Konigsberg, July 11,1657. He succeeded to the electorate in 1688, and on Jan, 18, 1701, elevated himself to the dignity of a king. He gave valuable support to William of Orange in his attempt on England, and characterized his reign by advancing the arts and sciences. Frederick died on Feb. 25, 1713, and was succeeded by his son, Frederick William I.
Frederick II of Prussia, better known as Frederick the Great was born at Berlin, Jan. 24, 1712. His early education was directed by military men, and its narrowness forced him into frequent open rebellion. When but eighteen he attempted to escape to England, but was unsuccessful; his father looked upon this act as military insubordination and political rebellion, and punished him with close confinement at Kiistrin, where he remained until 1733, when, shortly after his liberation, he married Princess Elizabeth Christina of Brunswick. Until 1740 he devoted his leisure time to the study of music and French literature, and then began to manifest signs of political ambition. On May 31 of that year he became king, and in the following December entered into a war with Austria, putting forward as a reason an old claim upon the province of Silesia. He twice defeated the Austrians, and by the treaty of Breslau, June, 1742, was awarded Upper and Lower Silesia. He again added to his territories as the result of a second Silesian War (August, 1744, to December, 1745), and after eleven years of peace he began a Silesian campaign (1756), better known as the Seven Years' War. In 1772 he added Polish Prussia and a large part of Great Poland to the Prussian crown. He died at Potsdam, Aug. 17, 1786. His military achievements gave him fame as a great military leader, whence his title of Frederick the Great, but he also was first in peace and greatly benefitted Prussia within. See Carlyle's History of Frederick II.
FREDERICK III
