Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex

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Prince Augustus Frederick
Duke of Sussex
Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex by Guy Head.jpg
Portrait by Guy Head
Born 27 January 1773
Buckingham House, London
Died Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist.
Kensington Palace, London
Burial Kensal Green Cemetery, London
Spouse Lady Augusta Murray
(m. 1793; annulled 1794)
Cecilia Underwood, Duchess of Inverness
(m. 1831; his death 1843)
Issue Augustus d'Este
Augusta d'Este
House Hanover
Father George III
Mother Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex KG KT GMB PRS FRSA (27 January 1773 – 21 April 1843), was the 6th son and 9th child of George III of the United Kingdom and his consort, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. He was the only surviving son of George III who did not pursue an army or naval career.

Biography

Early life

Augustus Frederick was born at Buckingham House, London. He was the 9th child and 6th son of George III and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

File:Prince Augustus in 1782.jpg
Nine-year-old Prince Augustus in 1782, painted by Thomas Gainsborough

He was christened in the Great Council Chamber at St. James's Palace, on 25 February 1773, by Archbishop of Canterbury Frederick Cornwallis. His godparents were the Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (his paternal first cousin once-removed, for whom The Earl of Hertford, Lord Chamberlain, stood proxy), Duke George Augustus of Mecklenburg (his maternal uncle, for whom the Earl of Bristol, Groom of the Stole, stood proxy) and Princess Charles of Hesse-Cassel (his first cousin once-removed, for whom The Viscountess Weymouth, Lady of the Bedchamber to the queen, stood proxy).[1]

He was tutored at home before being sent to the University of Göttingen in Germany in the summer of 1786, along with his brothers Prince Ernest and Prince Adolphus. Prince Augustus, who suffered from asthma, did not join his brothers in receiving military training in Hanover. He briefly considered becoming a cleric in the Church of England.

First marriage

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. While travelling in Italy, he met Lady Augusta Murray (1768–1830), the second daughter of 4th Earl of Dunmore. The couple secretly married in Rome on 4 April 1793. The King's minister of Hanover affairs Ernst zu Münster was sent to Italy, to escort him back to London.[2]

The couple married again without revealing their full identities at St. George's, Hanover Square, London, on 5 December 1793. Both marriages took place without the knowledge or the consent of the King.

In August 1794, the Prerogative Court annulled the marriage on the grounds that it contravened the Royal Marriages Act 1772 because it had not been approved by the King. Prince Augustus continued to live with Lady Augusta until 1801, when he received a parliamentary grant of £12,000 and the couple separated.
Lady Augusta retained custody of the children and received maintenance of £4,000 a year. The two children were named Augustus Frederick D'Este and Ellen Augusta Emma, Mademoiselle D'Este, both parents being descended from the royal House of Este. In 1806, their mother, Lady Augusta, was given royal licence to use the surname De Ameland instead of Murray.[3]

Duke of Sussex and Knight of the Garter

The King created him Duke of Sussex, Earl of Inverness, and Baron Arklow in the Peerage of the United Kingdom and a Knight of the Garter on 27 November 1801. Since he had no legitimate issue, the title became extinct on his death in 1843. In 1815 The Duke became a Patron of the Jews' Hospital and Orphan Asylum, later to become the charity known today as Norwood. Royal patronage continued, with Queen Elizabeth II eventually becoming Norwood’s patron.

Mistresses

A known mistress is Mrs. Bugge. Sir William Dillon recorded in his diary they were both present with him at a party held by Emma Hamilton (Lord Nelson's mistress) where she rented tableware for the meal but neglected to rent a carving knife, creating great difficulty in serving the Christmas dinner to her guests.[4]

United Grand Lodge of England

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Main article: History of Freemasonry

In January 1813, Prince Augustus Frederick became Grand Master of the Premier Grand Lodge of England, and in December of that year his brother, Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, became Grand Master of the Antient Grand Lodge of England. On 27 December 1813 the United Grand Lodge of England was constituted at Freemasons' Hall, London with Prince Augustus as Grand Master.

George Oliver's "Signs and Symbols Illustrated and Explained in a Course of Twelve Lectures on Freemasonry" (1837) was dedicated to Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex.

Second marriage

Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex wearing the robes of a Knight Companion of the Order of the Thistle

The Duke of Sussex married a second time on 2 May 1831 (again in contravention of the Royal Marriages Act) to Lady Cecilia Letitia Buggin (1793–1873), the eldest daughter of Arthur Gore, 2nd Earl of Arran and Elizabeth Underwood; and the widow of Sir George Buggin. Even allowing for the irregularity of these marriages, this second marriage would not have been bigamous since Lady Augusta D'Ameland (Lady Augusta Murray) had died the year before. On the same day, Lady Cecilia assumed by Royal Licence the surname Underwood. She was never titled or recognized as the Duchess of Sussex. However, she was created Duchess of Inverness in her own right in 1840.[5]

Later life

William IV appointed his younger brother Chief Ranger and Keeper of St. James's and Hyde Parks on 29 January 1831. The Duke of Sussex was elected president of the Society of Arts in 1816 and held that post for the rest of his life. He also held the honorary posts of Captain-General and Colonel of the Hon. Artillery Company from 1817 onward. He was president of the Royal Society between 1830 and 1838, and had a keen interest in biblical studies and Hebrew.[6] His personal library contained over 50,000 theological manuscripts, some in Hebrew.[7] In 1838, he introduced in a meeting scientist John Herschel, and the Duke gave a speech in which he spoke about the compatibility of science and religion:

The tomb of Prince Augustus Frederick, Kensal Green Cemetery

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In making these remarks I am not presumptuous; but allow me to say, that attached as I am to science--attached as I am to religion, I am satisfied that the real philosopher is the most religious man; and it is in looking to the operations in nature that the finger of the Almighty leads us to the lesson.

— June 16, 1838[8]

The Duke of Sussex was the favourite uncle of Queen Victoria. He gave her away at her wedding to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. The Duke of Sussex died at Kensington Palace in 1843. In his will he specified that he was not to have a state funeral and was accordingly buried at Kensal Green Cemetery on 5 May 1843.[9] He is buried in front of the main chapel, immediately opposite the tomb of his sister, Princess Sophia.

The Duchess of Inverness continued to reside at Kensington Palace until her death in 1873. She was buried next to her second husband.

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Coat of Arms of Prince Augustus, Duke of Sussex, used from 1801 until his death.

Titles and styles

  • 27 January 1773 – 27 November 1801: His Royal Highness The Prince Augustus Frederick
  • 27 November 1801 – 21 April 1843: His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex

Honours

Arms

As a son of the sovereign, the Duke of Sussex had use of the arms of the kingdom, differenced by a label argent of three points, the centre point bearing a two hearts gules, the outer points each bearing a cross gules.[10]

Issue

Name Birth Death Notes
By Lady Augusta Murray (married 4 April 1793; annulled)
Augustus Frederick d'Este 1794 1848
Augusta Emma d'Este 1801 1866 married Thomas Wilde, 1st Baron Truro; no issue.
By Lady Cecilia Letitia Buggin (married 2 May 1831)
no issue

Ancestors

Ancestry of Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 16. George I of Great Britain
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 8. George II of Great Britain
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 17. Sophia Dorothea of Celle
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4. Frederick, Prince of Wales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 18. John Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 9. Caroline of Ansbach
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 19. Princess Eleonore Erdmuthe of Saxe-Eisenach
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2. George III of the United Kingdom
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 20. Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 10. Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 21. Magdalena Sibylle of Saxe-Weissenfels
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 5. Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 22. Charles, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 11. Magdalena Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 23. Sophia of Saxe-Weissenfels
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1. Prince Augustus Frederick,
Duke of Sussex
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 24. Adolf Frederick I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12. Adolf Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 25. Maria Katharina of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 6. Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Prince of Mirow
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 26. Christian William I of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 13. Christiane Emilie of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 27. Antoine Sybille of Barby-Muhlingen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3. Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 28. Ernest III, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 14. Ernest Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 29. Sophie of Waldeck
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 7. Princess Elizabeth Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 30. George Louis I of Erbach-Erbach
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 15. Countess Sophia Albertine of Erbach-Erbach
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 31. Amelie Katherine of Waldeck-Eisenberg
 
 
 
 
 
 

Notes

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ T. F. Henderson, ‘Augustus Frederick, Prince, duke of Sussex (1773–1843)’, rev. John Van der Kiste, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 15966. p. 1364. 18 October 1806.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 19842. p. 858. 31 March 1840.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Bookplate of Augustus Frederick, Prince, Duke of Sussex, Rare Books of the Shimeon Brisman Collection in Jewish Studies, Washington University. Retrieved 2015-06-19
  8. ↑ The Athenaeum, J. Lection. p. 424
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex
Cadet branch of the House of Welf
Born: 27 January 1773 Died: 21 April 1843
Peerage of the United Kingdom
New creation Duke of Sussex
1801 – 1843		 Extinct
Masonic offices
Preceded by as Acting Grand Master of the Premier
Grand Lodge of England		 Grand Master of the United
Grand Lodge of England
1813–1843		 Succeeded by
The Earl of Zetland
Preceded by as Grand Master of the Antient
Grand Lodge of England
Honorary titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Prince William, Duke of Clarence
and St Andrews		 Great Master of the Order of the Bath
1837–1843		 Succeeded by
Albert, Prince Consort
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