Ernst Frederick III Karl, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen (Königsberg in Bayern, 10 June 1727 – Seidingstadt, 23 September 1780), was a duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen.

He was the eldest son of Ernst Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen and Caroline of Erbach-Fürstenau.

He succeeded his father as Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen when he was only eighteen years old in 1745; as a result his mother, the Dowager Duchess Caroline, acted as a regent on his behalf until he reached adulthood, in 1748.

Ernst Frederick was considered to be intelligent, talented, and one of the most handsome princes of his time. He donated a library to the city, but finally his excessive prodigality in exaggerated yard and military splendor drew the attention of the highest places to the financial situation of his country.

The Emperor Joseph II created a debit commission under management of the Duchess Charlotte Amalie of Saxe-Meiningen and prince Joseph of Saxe-Hildburghausen, the granduncle of the duke, to investigate the demands of the creditors and adjust the incomes and expenditures to 1769. The financial situation of the country was so disastrous that 35 years duration of this commission could not repair conditions completely.

After he made use in 1757 of the Münzregal (Imperial coinage regale), he was entangled in a complaint of the realm treasury. Finally, the huge fire of the city of Hildburghausen in 1779, forced Ernst Fredercik to move to his hunting residence in Seidingstadt, where he died a year later.

In the Hirschholm Palace, north of Copenhagen on 1 October 1749, Ernst Frederick was first married to Princess Louise of Denmark, daughter of the King Christian VI. They had one daughter:

...
Wikipedia