Georg I Frederick Karl, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, was Duke of Saxe-Meiningen from 1782 to 1803.
Background
Georg was born on 4 February 1761 at Frankfurt as the fourth but second surviving son of Anton Ulrich, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Philippsthal. His father was 74 years old at the time and died two years later in 1763.
Career
He was known as a reformer and considered a model prince by many of his peers. He ruled based on the principles of "enlightened absolutism" emphasizing in particular the importance of education. Under a nom-de-plume he published philosophical treatises.
As a result, many of his fellow princes considered him a model ruler and his duchy as the German state where enlightened absolutism reached its apogee.
Georg I died of a fever on 24 December 1803 at Meiningen.