Gustav IV Adolph (1778-1837), King of Sweden (1792-1809), son of King Gustav III, born in Stockholm. He was king under the regency of his uncle from 1792 until 1800, when he was crowned. Gustav was a reactionary and despotic ruler. His hatred of the French Republic prompted him to join the Third Coalition against Napoleon, a move that resulted in the loss of Pomerania to France in 1807 and Finland to Russia in 1808. The following year the Swedish nobles forced him to abdicate and adopted a charter providing for a constitutional monarchy. Gustav died in exile in Switzerland. He was succeeded by his uncle, Charles XIII.
