William II of Orange
Dutch Nobility. Born Willem von Nassau-Dillenburgat at The Hague, Netherlands, the son of Frederik Hendrik von Nassau-Dillenburg, Prince of Orange and Amalie zu Solms-Braunfels. On May 2, 1641 he married Mary Henrietta, the Princess Royal, eldest daughter of Charles I of England, in the Chapel Royal at Whitehall Palace in London. He was invested as a Knight, Order of the Garter in March 1645. He succeeded to the title of Stadtholder William II of the United Provinces of the Netherlands in March 1647. He opposed acceptance of the 1648 Treaty of Münster despite its recognition of the independence of the Netherlands, and began secret negotiations with France, hoping for the extension of his territory, the centralization of his government, and the restoration of his brother-in-law, Charles II, to the English throne. in October 1650 he fell ill and returned to The Hague. He succumbed to a severe case of small pox within ten days. A week after his death his widow gave birth to a son, the future William III of England.
Bio by: Iola