Charlotte (redirected from Charlotte Sophia of Mecklenburg-Strelitz)

Charlotte, queen consort of George III of England

Charlotte (shär`lət) (Charlotte Sophia), 1744–1818, queen consort of George III of England. The niece of Frederick, duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, she was married to George in 1761 and bore him 15 children. When the king became permanently disabled in 1810, she was given charge of his person and his household.

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Charlotte, grand duchess of Luxembourg

Charlotte, 1896–1985, grand duchess of Luxembourg (1919–64). The second daughter of Duke William of Nassau-Weilburg and a Portuguese princess, Marie Anne of Braganza, she succeeded her sister, Marie-Adelaide, who had abdicated in her favor. In Nov., 1919, Charlotte married Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma. During the German occupation in World War II, the grand duchess and her family went into exile, eventually settling in Montreal. She returned home in 1945. In Nov., 1964, Charlotte abdicated in favor of her son, Jean.

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Charlotte, city, United States

Charlotte, city (1990 pop. 395,934), seat of Mecklenburg co., S N.C.; inc. 1768. The largest city in the state and the commercial and industrial leader of the Piedmont region, Charlotte is the third-ranking U.S. banking center as well as an air, transportation, and distribution hub for the Carolina manufacturing belt. Hydroelectricity from the Catawba River powers industries producing textiles, chemicals, clothing, machinery, food, metals, and printed materials.

The Univ. of North Carolina at Charlotte, Queens College, and Johnson C. Smith Univ. are in the city. The Mint Museum of Art is a reproduction of the U.S. Mint located in Charlotte from 1837 until 1913. The city is home to professional football (the Panthers) and basketball (the Hornets) teams. The huge Charlotte Coliseum and high-rise office buildings have transformed the city's skyline since the 1980s. Lowe's (formerly Charlotte) Motor Speedway is in nearby Concord.

The city (settled c.1750) was named for Queen Charlotte, wife of George III of England. Its citizens were among the most outspoken in opposition to the British government, and it was at Charlotte that the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence was signed in May, 1775. In his brief occupation of the city (Sept.–Oct., 1780), British General Cornwallis called it a "hornet's nest of rebellion." In 1971, Charlotte and Mecklenburg co. became the scene of the first major court-ordered busing program (ended 1999) to eliminate school segregation.

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Charlotte

City (pop., 2000: 540,828), North Carolina, U.S. The Carolinas' biggest metropolis, it lies near the Catawba River, 15 mi (24 km) north of South Carolina. It was settled c. 1748 and named for Charlotte Sophia of Mecklenburg-Streliz (later the wife of George III). In the American Revolution it was occupied by Lord Cornwallis, who dubbed it “the hornet's nest.” Until the California gold rush that began in 1848, it was the centre of U.S. gold production. In the American Civil War it was the site of a Confederate naval yard. Presidents Andrew Jackson and James Polk were born nearby and received their early schooling there. Its industry includes textiles, machinery, and chemical production, and it is the site of several institutions of higher education.

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Charlotte

 orig. Charlotte Sophia of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

(born May 19, 1744—died Nov. 17, 1818) Queen consort of George III of England. In 1761 she was selected unseen after the British king asked for a review of all eligible German Protestant princesses. The marriage was a success, and the couple had 15 children, including George IV. After the king was declared insane (1811), Parliament turned to the future George IV, while Charlotte was given custody of her husband.

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Charlotte

a city in S North Carolina: the largest city in the state. Pop.: 584 658 (2003 est.)

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Charlotte

faithful to fiance lost at sea. [Br. Lit.: Fatal Curiosity]

See : Faithfulness

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Charlotte

spider that saves Wilbur the pig from slaughter. [Am. Lit.: E. B. White Charlotte’s Web]

See : Rescue