Louise Charlotte was born a Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, her father being Friedrich Franz I, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Her mother was Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and her sister Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1784–1840), who married King Christian VIII of Denmark.
On 1 November 1795, Louise Charlotte was engaged to King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden. The engagement was arranged by Gustaf Adolf Reuterholm, the de facto regent of Sweden, who wished to keep his influence after the monarch was declared of legal majority by having a queen indebted to him for her position. The king himself was initially positive.
The engagement was celebrated in the courts of Sweden and Mecklenburg and Louise Charlotte was mentioned in the official church prayer in Sweden.
Upon this many people told the king that Louise Charlotte, whom he had not seen, was not beautiful. About the same period, the monarch also fell in love with Ebba Modéest
When the king was declared of legal majority in 1796, he broke off the engagement. Her father demanded compensation.
In 1803, the matter was settled when the Swedish city of Wismar in Germany was turned over to Mecklenburg-Schwerin by a treaty in Malmö.
Their common ancestor was Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1676 – 1732). The marriage was arranged against her will and was an unhappy one: her spouse abused her and she wished to leave him, but was forced by her family to stay. She was described as very blond, not attractive, somewhat hunchbacked but also as witty, talented, cultivated and with a pleasant manner, though more open than what was regarded as an ideal for the period.
However, she never recovered from childbirth effects and died eleven days later, on 1 January 1801 at the age of 21, before Augustus assumed the throne of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.
19 November 1779 – 21 October 1797: Her Highness Duchess Louise Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
21 October 1797 – 4 January 1801: Her Highness The Hereditary Princess of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.
