A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Catharine Paulowna
CATHARINE PAULOWNA.
Queen of Würtumburg, Grand-princess of Russia, was born May 21st., 1788. She was the younger sister of Alexander, Emperor of Russia, and married, in 1809, George, Prince of Holstein-Oldenburg, and thus avoided compliance with a proposal of marriage made her by Napoleon. She had two sons by this marriage; her husband died in Russia, in 1812. Catharine was distinguished for her beauty, talents, resolution, and her attachment to her brother Alexander. After 1812, she was frequently his companion in his campaigns, as well as during his residence in France and Vienna, and evidently had an important influence on several of his measures. January 24th., 1816, Catharine married, from motives of affection, William, Crown-prince of Würtumburg; and after the death of his father, in October, 1816, they ascended the throne of Würtumburg. She was a generous benefactor to her subjects during the famine of 1816. She formed female associations, established an agricultural society, laboured to promote the education of the people, and founded valuable institutions for the poor. She instituted a school for females of the higher classes, and savings' banks for the lower classes. She was inclined to be arbitrary, and had but little taste for the fine arts. She had two daughters by her second marriage; and she died January 9th., 1819.