Frederick III (1831-1888), the only son of Wilhelm I, became king of Prussia and German emperor in 1888. He died of cancer on June 15, 1888, just three months after he succeeded his father. He believed in parliamentary government and took an important part in political affairs during his father’s reign. Bismarck, the chancellor of Imperial Germany, opposed Frederick’s liberal views (see Bismarck, Otto von ). Frederick was born on Oct. 18, 1831, in Potsdam. He married the Princess Royal Victoria, daughter of Queen Victoria of England. Their oldest son was Wilhelm II (See Wilhelm (II) ).
