Who is Leopold II King of the Belgians from King Leopold's Ghost and what is their importance?

Leopold II (1835 - 1909), was King of the Belgians; in the text and in this summary, he is referred to as "Leopold." The second, but oldest surviving, son of Leopold I, he succeeded to the throne in 1865. He was the brother of Empress Carlota of Mexico and cousin of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. Described as pencil thin and possessing a large nose, Leopold demonstrated an early fascination with trade and power. He was particularly interested in wealth derived from trade, an overt trait unusual in royalty during the period.