Duke of York and Albany

Duke of York and Albany
Style His Royal Highness
Sir
Appointer Monarch of Great Britain
Term length Life tenure or until accession as Sovereign
Inaugural holder Prince Ernest Augustus
Formation 1716
Salary Undisclosed

Duke of York and Albany was a title of nobility in the Peerage of Great Britain. In the 18th century it was, when granted, usually given to the second son of British monarchs. The predecessor titles in the English and Scottish peerage were Duke of York and Duke of Albany.

History

The individual dukedoms of York and of Albany had previously each been created several times in the Peerages of England and of Scotland respectively. Each had become a traditional title of the second son of the monarch, and had become traditional united (but separately awarded) in the House of Stuart.

During the 18th century the double dukedom of York and Albany was created a number of times in the Peerage of Great Britain. The title was first held by Duke Ernest Augustus of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Bishop of Osnabrück, the youngest brother of King George I. He died without heirs. The second creation of the Dukedom of York and Albany was for Prince Edward, younger brother of King George III, who also died without heirs, having never married. The third and last creation of the Dukedom of York and Albany was for Prince Frederick Augustus, the second son of King George III. He served as Commander-in-Chief of the British Army for many years, and was the original "Grand old Duke of York" in the popular rhyme. He too died without heirs.

Every time the Dukedom of York and Albany has been created it has had only one occupant, that person either inheriting the throne or dying without male heirs.

Dukes

Dukes of York and Albany

First creation, 1716–1728

Duke Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Prince Ernest Augustus
House of Hanover
1716–1728[1]
also: Prince-Bishop of Osnabrück (1715–1728), Earl of Ulster (1716) 		7 September 1674
Osnabrück
son of Ernest Augustus, Elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Sophia of the Palatinate		never married 14 August 1728
Osnabrück
aged 53
Prince Ernest was the younger brother of George I and died without issue

Second creation, 1760–1767

Duke Portrait Birth Marriages Death
Prince Edward
House of Hanover
1760–1767[2]
also: Earl of Ulster (1760) 		25 March 1739
Norfolk House
son of Frederick, Prince of Wales and Augusta of Saxe-Gotha		never married 17 September 1767
Prince's Palace of Monaco
aged 28
Rather than the second son of the sovereign, Prince Edward was the second son of Frederick, Prince of Wales, and the younger brother of George III. This Duke of York died without issue at age 28 after a short illness

Third creation, 1784–1827

Duke Portrait Birth Marriages Death
The Prince Frederick
House of Hanover
1784–1827[3]
also: Earl of Ulster (1784) 		16 August 1763
St. James's Palace
son of George III of the United Kingdom and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz		 Frederica Charlotte of Prussia
29 September 1791
No children		 5 January 1827
Rutland House
aged 63
Prince Frederick separated from his only wife Frederica Charlotte (with whom he had no children) but was rumoured to have fathered several illegitimate children

Queen Victoria granted the title Duke of Albany (single geographic designation) to her 4th son, Prince Leopold, in 1881, and the title Duke of York (single geographic designation) to her eldest son's second (but by then eldest living) son, Prince George, in 1892.

Family tree

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kilburn, Matthew (May 2005) [2004]. "Ernest Augustus, Prince, duke of York and Albany (1674–1728)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/8839.
  2. ↑ Yvonne's Royalty: Peerage. Mypage.uniserve.ca. Retrieved on 2012-06-06.
  3. ↑ "Yvonne's Royalty: Peerage". Retrieved 21 April 2012.
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