Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick

Charles William Ferdinand
An 18th century portrait by Johann Georg Ziesenis
Prince of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Reign	26 March 1780 – 10 November 1806
Predecessor	Charles I
Successor	Frederick William
Born	(1735-10-09)9 October 1735 Wolfenbüttel, Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Holy Roman Empire
Died	10 November 1806(1806-11-10) (aged 71) Ottensen, Hamburg
Burial	24 November 1806 Christianskirche, Ottensen, Hamburg 6 November 1819 Brunswick Cathedral
Spouse	Princess Augusta of Great Britain ​ ​ (m. 1764)​
Issue Details	Augusta, Duchess Frederick of Württemberg Karl Georg August, Hereditary Prince of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel Caroline, Queen of the United Kingdom Prince George William Christian Prince Augustus Frederick William, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel Princess Amelia
House	Brunswick-Bevern
Father	Charles I, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Mother	Princess Philippine Charlotte of Prussia
Signature

Charles William Ferdinand (German: Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand; 9 October 1735 – 10 November 1806) was the prince of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel and duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and a military leader. His titles are usually shortened to Duke of Brunswick in English-language sources.

He succeeded his father as sovereign prince of the Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, one of the princely states of the Holy Roman Empire. The duke was a cultured and benevolent despot in the model of his uncle, Frederick the Great, and was married to Princess Augusta, the eldest sister of George III of Great Britain. He was also a recognized master of 18th century warfare, serving as a Field Marshal in the Prussian Army. During the Napoleonic Wars, he was mortally wounded by a musket ball at the Battle of Jena–Auerstedt in 1806.