Duke Paul Wilhelm of Württemberg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Duke Paul Wilhelm of Württemberg |
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| Born | 25 June 1797 Bad Carlsruhe, Silesia, Kingdom of Prussia |
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| Died | 25 November 1860 (aged 63) Mergentheim, Kingdom of Württemberg |
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| Spouse | Princess Maria Sophia of Thurn and Taxis | ||||
| Issue | Duke Maximilian | ||||
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| House | House of Württemberg | ||||
| Father | Duke Eugen of Württemberg | ||||
| Mother | Princess Luise of Stolberg-Gedern | ||||
Duke Paul Wilhelm of Württemberg was an important German naturalist and explorer. He was born on June 25, 1797, in Bad Carlsruhe, which was in Prussia at the time. He passed away on November 25, 1860, in Mergentheim, Kingdom of Württemberg. Paul Wilhelm was a member of the House of Württemberg, a royal family.
In the early 1800s, he went on many expeditions. He explored places like North America, North Africa, and Australia. One of his big achievements was discovering the sources of the Missouri River in 1829.
Family Background
Paul Wilhelm was the youngest of five children. His parents were Duke Eugen of Württemberg and Princess Luise of Stolberg-Gedern. His grandfather was Frederick II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg. Paul Wilhelm was also the nephew of Frederick of Württemberg, who became the first King of Württemberg.
Amazing Expeditions
Paul Wilhelm loved to travel and study nature. His first big research trip was between 1822 and 1824. He traveled to Cuba and North America. During his travels, he kept a detailed diary. He wrote about the places he visited. He also described the plants, animals, and cultures he saw. An artist traveled with him and drew many pictures of the landscapes and wildlife.
Paul Wilhelm was especially interested in North America and South America. He spent time exploring the Western United States. There, he met Jean Baptiste Charbonneau. Jean Baptiste was the son of Sacagawea, a famous Native American guide. Their meeting happened in 1823 near the Kansas River. It was likely arranged by William Clark, a well-known explorer.
After this meeting, Paul Wilhelm traveled north. He went with Toussaint Charbonneau, Jean Baptiste's father. Toussaint was hired as an interpreter. The Duke's group spent five months in the upper Missouri River area. They visited trading forts and Native American tribes. They also collected a lot of scientific information. Paul Wilhelm is known as one of the first explorers to find the headwaters of the Mississippi River and Missouri River.
Later in the 1850s, he visited Ottomar von Behr in Sisterdale, Texas. Baron von Behr was a German farmer and scientist. When Paul Wilhelm visited New Braunfels, Texas in 1855, an artist named Carl G. von Iwonski gave him six pencil sketches of Texas.
Marriage and Later Life
Paul Wilhelm married his second cousin, Princess Maria Sophia of Thurn and Taxis. They got married on April 17, 1827, in Regensburg. They had one son together:
- Duke Wilhelm Ferdinand Maximilian Karl of Württemberg (born September 3, 1828, in Schloss Taxis – died July 28, 1888, in Regensburg).
Paul Wilhelm and Maria Sophia divorced on May 2, 1835. After his marriage ended, Paul Wilhelm lived at Mergentheim Palace in Bad Mergentheim. He kept his large collection of items from his travels there. This collection included many things related to different cultures. In Bad Carlsruhe, he started building a palace called "Paulusburg." However, it was not finished until the year he died.
Literary Works
Paul Wilhelm also wrote books about his travels and discoveries. Some of his works include:
- Early Sacramento: glimpses of John Augustus Sutter, the Hok farm, and neighboring Indian tribes
- Paul Wilhelm, Duke of Württemberg Travels in North America 1822–1824
See also
In Spanish: Pablo Guillermo de Wurtemberg para niños
