Wilhelm I, German Emperor

Wilhelm I, also known as Wilhelm the Great (1797–1888) of the House of Hohenzollern was the King of Prussia (1861–1888) and the first German Emperor (1871–1888).

Under the leadership of Wilhelm and his prime minister Otto von Bismarck, Prussia achieved the unification of Germany and the establishment of the German Empire.

Wilhelm I in Southern Victory
Wilhelm I's ambassador to the United States Kurd von Schlozer negotiated an alliance with the US with President James G. Blaine. This alliance served as foundation for the Quadruple Alliance.

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 his great-grandson, Wilhelm III), wisely preferring to leave much of the administration of his newfound country to its extremely capable Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck.