Christian Ludwig II was the son of Friedrich I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1638-1688) and Christine Wilhelmine (1653-1722). He married Gustave Karoline, Princess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz on November 13, 1714, and succeeded Karl Leopold to the throne in 1747. He was a patron of the arts, founding the Art Gallery of the Castle of Schwerin and the first German school of acting. His collection of Dutch 17th century pictures formed the basis of the collection in the Staatliches Museum, Schwerin.