William I. Seventh king of Prussia and first German emperor. Born in 1797. He took part in the campaign of 1814-15 under Blucher, and was commander of the forces which suppressed the revolutionary movement of 1849 in Baden. On the death of the king, his brother, in 1861, he succeeded to the throne of Prussia. During his reign, Prussia defeated Denmark in 1864, annexing the duchies of Schleswig-Holstein; overwhelmed Austria at the Battle of Sadowa, 1866; and, with the rest of Germany, conquered France in 1870. At Versailles, during the siege of Paris on January 18, 1871, William I was proclaimed German emperor. Died 1888.

---