Frederick V of Denmark

Frederick V (March 31, 1723 - January 13, 1766) was king of Denmark and Norway from 1746, son of Christian VI of Denmark and Sophie Magdelena, Markgravin of Brandenburg-Kalmbach-Bayreuth.

He was first married to Louise of Great Britain and Ireland, daughter of King George II and Caroline of Ansbach. They were parents of seven children but only five survived birth:

• Christian, Prince of Denmark and Norway (July 7, 1745) - June 3, 1747).
• Sophie Magdalen of Denmark (July 3, 1746 - August 21, 1813). Queen consort of Gustav III of Sweden.
• Karoline Wilhelmina, Princess of Denmark and Norway (July 10, 1747 - January 19, 1820). Consort of Wilhelm I, Elector of Hesse-Kassel.
• Christian VII of Denmark (January 29, 1749 - March 13, 1808).
• Luise, Princess of Denmark and Norway (30 January, 1750 - 12 January, 1831. She was mother to Luise Caroline, Princess of Hesse-Kassel.

He founded the Royal Danish Academy of Art (Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi) in Copenhagen, which officially opened on March 31, 1754, his 31st birthday.

Frederick avoided involving Denmark in the European wars of his time. The country remained neutral even for the duration of the Seven Years' War (1756 - 1763) despite its proximity to combatants Russia and Sweden.

He died after 43 years of life and twenty years of reign. His last words were reportedly: "It is a great consolation to me in my last hour that I have never wilfully offended anyone and that there is not a drop of blood on my hands."