Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge
| Prince Adolphus | |
|---|---|
| Duke of Cambridge | |
 |
|
| Successor | Prince George, Duke of Cambridge |
| Spouse | Princess Augusta of Hesse-Cassel |
| Issue | |
| Prince George, Duke of Cambridge Princess Augusta of Cambridge Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge |
|
| Full name | |
| Adolphus Frederick | |
| Titles | |
| HRH The Duke of Cambridge HRH The Prince Adolphus |
|
| Royal house | House of Hanover |
| Father | George III |
| Mother | Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz |
| Born | 24 February 1774 Buckingham Palace, London |
| Died | 8 July 1850 (aged 76) Cambridge House, Piccadilly |
| Burial | Kew, London |
| Occupation | Military |
Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge (Adolphus Frederick; 24 February 1774 – 8 July 1850), was the tenth child and seventh son of George III and Queen Charlotte. He held the title of Duke of Cambridge from 1801 until his death. He also served as Viceroy of Hanover on behalf of his brothers George IV and William IV. His granddaughter, Mary of Teck was the Queen consort of George V.
Early life
Prince Adolphus was born at Buckingham Palace. He was tutored at home before being sent to the University of Göttingen in Germany in summer 1786, along with his brothers Prince Ernest (created Duke of Cumberland in 1799) and Prince Augustus (created Duke of Sussex in 1801).
Military career
In 1791, he and Prince Ernest went to Hanover to receive military training under the supervision of the Hannoverian commander Field Marshal von Freytag. He rose to the ranks of colonel in 1794, to lieutenant general in 1798, and field marshal in 1813. George III appointed Prince Adolphus a Knight of the Garter on 6 June 1786 and created him Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Tipperary, and Baron Culloden on 17 November 1801.
The Duke served as colonel-in-chief of the Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards (Coldstream Guards after 1855) from September 1805 and as colonel-in-chief of the 60th (The Duke of York's Own Rifle Corps) Regiment of Foot from January 1824.
Marriage
After the death of Princess Charlotte in 1817, the Duke was set the task of finding a bride for his eldest unmarried brother, the Duke of Clarence (later William IV) in the hope of securing heirs to the throne -- Charlotte had been the only legitimate grandchild of George III, despite the fact that the King had twelve surviving children. After several false starts, the Duke of Cambridge settled on Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen. The Duke of Clarence agreed with alacrity, and the way was cleared for the Duke of Cambridge to find a bride for himself.
The Duke of Cambridge was married first at Cassel, Hesse on 7 May and then at Buckingham Palace on 1 June 1818 to his second cousin Augusta (25 July 1797-6 April 1889), the third daughter of Friedrich III, Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel.
He was, as is shown in the list of issue below, the maternal grandfather of Mary of Teck, consort of George V. This makes Adolphus the great-great-grandfather of the present British monarch, Elizabeth II
Viceroy
From 1816 to 1837, the Duke of Cambridge served as viceroy of Hanover on behalf of his elder brothers, George IV and later William IV. When his niece, Queen Victoria succeeded to the British throne on 20 June 1837, the 123-year union of the crowns of Great Britain (the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1801) and Hanover ended. The Duke of Cumberland became King Ernest Augustus I of Hanover and the Duke of Cambridge returned to Britain.
Later life
The Duke of Cambridge died on 8 July 1850 at Cambridge House, Piccadilly, London, and was buried at Kew. His remains were later removed to St. George's Chapel, Windsor. His only son, Prince George, succeeded to his peerages.
Titles, styles, honours and arms
Titles
- 24 February 1774-17 November 1801: His Royal Highness The Prince Adolphus
- 17 November 1801-8 July 1850: His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge
Styles
His full style at death was Field Marshal His Royal Highness The Prince Adolphus Frederick, Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Tipperary, Baron Culloden, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Member of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order
Honours
British Honours
- PC: Privy Council, 1802
- KG: Knight of the Garter, 6 June 1786
- KB: Knight Companion of the Bath
- GCMG: Knight Grand Cross of St Michael and St George
- GCH: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order
Arms
The Duke's arms were the Royal Arms of the House of Hanover, with a three point label of difference. The first and third labels containing two hearts, and the centre label bearing a red cross. His arms were adopted by his youngest daughter, Princess Mary Adelaide and her heirs included them in their arms impaled with the arms of the Duke of Teck.
Issue
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had three children:
| Name | Birth | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince George, Duke of Cambridge | 26 March 1819 | 17 March 1904 | married 1847, Sarah Louisa Fairbrother; had issue |
| Princess Augusta of Cambridge | 19 July 1822 | 4 December 1916 | married 1843, Friedrich Wilhelm, Grand Duke of Mecklenberg-Strelitz; had issue |
| Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge | 27 November 1833 | 27 October 1897 | married 1866, Francis, Duke of Teck; had issue, including Mary of Teck, later queen consort |
Ancestors
See also
|
Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge
Cadet branch of the House of Welf
Born: 24 February 1774 Died: 8 July 1850 |
||
| Peerage of Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Fourth Creation |
Duke of Cambridge 1801–1850 |
Succeeded by Prince George |
| Military offices | ||
| Preceded by The Duke of York and Albany |
Colonel of the
Coldstream Guards 1805–1850 |
Succeeded by The Earl of Strafford |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by The Viscount Melville |
Chancellor of the University of St Andrews 1811–1814 |
Succeeded by The Viscount Melville |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by Sir Thomas Maitland |
Grand Master of the
Order of St Michael and St George 1825–1850 |
Succeeded by The Duke of Cambridge |
| Other offices | ||
| Preceded by The Duke of York and Albany |
President of the Foundling
Hospital 1827–1850 |
Succeeded by The Duke of Cambridge |
| Dukes of Cambridge |
|---|
|
James Stuart (1664–1667) · Edgar Stuart (1667–1671) · George II (1706–1727) · Prince Adolphus (1801–1850) · Prince George (1850–1904) |
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