DEATH OF KING LEOPOLD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 267, 18 December 1909, Page 2

DEATH OF KING LEOPOLD

PEACEFUL BUT SUDDEN. By Cable—Press Association.—CopyrJgii. Received 17, 8.35 p.m. Brussels, December 17. Ring Leopold died at iialf-puat two this morning. Received 1(, 0.25 p.m. ■ Embolism was the cause of King Leopold's death, which was peaceful but sudden. He said to the doctor: "I am choking." TTorphia wan injected, but iie died almost immediately. Prince Albert arrived shortly afrward and reverently kissed the dead monarch.

As a traveller during the first half of his life, unci as the Sovereign lluler of the distressful Congo State during njoiv recent years, King Leopold was be«t known. He was born .in 1885 at Brussels, hits father being Leopold I and his mother Princess Louise, daughter of the French King, Ixjuis I'hillippo. hi 184(> lie was created Duke of Brabant, and appointed a sub-lieutenant in rhe army, in which he served till his accession, rising to the rank of lieuten-ant-general. On* attaining hU majority he became a zealous member of the Kpnate. taking a specially keen interest in all questions which concerned the trade of Belgium. In 1853 he married Marie Henrietta, daughter of -the late Archduke Joseph of Austria, and after visiting the chief towns of IMgiuin the young couple made a •prolonged l°nr in 4854*5 of Italy. Austria, Egypt, Palestine, and CJreeee. In 1800 the Duke visited Constantinople, and two years later he went to Spain and Morocco, after a brief visit to the South of England. Later on in the year he paid a second visit to Egypt, travelling by way of Algiers and Tunis. He also visited the sacred Mount of Sinai. The following year found him a traveller as • far as China and India. He returned in through London, in order to accord special thanks to Queen VictOYia and the British Government for courtesies received during his travels in our Eastern possessions. On his father's death he succeeded to the Crown in 1805. By the death of his only 1 son, the Crown Prince Leopold, in 1809. the King's brother, Prince Philip of Flanders, became next in succession. During the Franco-Prussian war King i Leopold, it has been said, preserved a t strict and honorable neutrality in a j period of unusual difficulty and danger.