Frederick Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg

Frederick Augustus II (16 November 1852 in Oldenburg – 24 February 1931 in Rastede) was the last ruling Grand Duke of Oldenburg.

Frederick Augustus was the eldest son of Peter II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg. He grew up with an interest in the navy and studied at multiple German universities, before serving in the navy. In 1878, he married Princess Elisabeth Anna of Prussia, daughter of Princess Maria Anna of Anhalt-Dessau and Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia. After her death in 1895, he married Elisabeth Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin in 1896.

He ascended to the Oldenburg throne in 1900 as Frederick Augustus II and funded multiple infrastructure projects, including the development of ports and waterways. The First World War broke out during his reign which saw the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg fight with the German Empire under Kaiser Wilhelm II on the side of the Central Powers. The German Revolution at the end of the war forced Frederick Augustus to abdicate and led to the collapse of all German monarchies. After living in exile for two decades, Frederick Augustus died at the age of 78 years old.