Frederick William II was the son of Prince Augustus William of Prussia (the second son of King Frederick William I of Prussia) and Louise Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg. In 1765, he married Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Lüneburg, with whom he had one daughter. Their marriage was dissolved four years later. Frederick then married Frederica Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt, with whom he had seven children, including Frederick William III (see lot 153) although he maintained relationships with numerous other women, including his official mistress Countess Wilhelmine von Lichtenau, with whom he had five children.