Biography of Francesco Stefano
Francesco Stefano of Lorraine, Emperor. Son (Nancy 1708 - Innsbruck 1765) of Duke Leopold of Lorraine and Elisabetta Carlotta d'Orléans, succeeded his father in 1729. Named (1730) governor of Hungary. Married (1736) the daughter of Charles VI, Maria Teresa. In the same year, he was required to renounce his claims to Lorraine in favor of Stanislao Leszcyński, but he was compensated with the rights to the throne of Tuscany, where he became grand duke (1737) at the death of the last Medici. Maria Teresa (1740) rose to her throne and he was named co-regent by her, and was elected (1745) emperor in Frankfurt. While he demonstrated no particular military skills, he was an able business man and took charge (1763) of the empire's financial affairs. He and his wife had sixteen children.