Grand Duke Carl August of Saxe-Weimar was a prominent German nobleman born on September 3, 1757. He ruled the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach from 1775 until his death in 1828. Known for his progressive policies, he promoted education, culture, and the arts during his reign, making his court a center for intellectual and artistic life. Carl August was a patron of notable figures such as the writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and the philosopher Friedrich Schiller. His support helped foster a vibrant cultural environment in Weimar, which became a significant hub of German literature and philosophy during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.