Wilhelm I, German Emperor

Wilhelm I (1797-1888) became the first Hohenzollern Kaiser (Emperor) of the newly-unified Germany in 1871. Kurd von Schlozer was his ambassador to the United States, and it was during his reign that Schlozer negotiated an alliance with the US with President James G. Blaine--what would eventually become the Central Powers.

Wilhelm was the grandfather of Wilhelm II, who was Kaiser during the Great War. The elder Wilhelm was not as authoritarian as his grandson (or hos great-grandson, Wilhelm III), wisely preferring to leave much of the administration of his newfound country to its extremely capable Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck.