 The future king and emperor was born William Frederick Louis of Prussia ("Wilhelm Friedrich Ludwig von Preußen") in the Kronprinzenpalais in Berlin on 22 March 1797.As the second son of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Prince Frederick William, himself son of King Frederick William II, William was not expected to ascend to the throne.His grandfather died the year he was born, at age 53, in 1797, and his father Frederick William III became king.