Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh
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Categories: English and British princes | House of Hanover | Dukes of Gloucester and Edinburgh | Earls in the Peerage of Ireland | Knights of the Garter | People from Westminster | People from Windsor, Berkshire | People associated with Trinity College, Dublin | Chancellors of the University of Dublin | 1743 births | 1805 deaths
Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh KG (14 November 1743 - 25 August 1805) was a member of the British Royal Family, a grandson of George II and a younger brother of George III.
Early lifePrince William Henry[1] was born at Leicester House, London. His father was The Prince Frederick, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King George II and Caroline of Ansbach. His mother was The Princess of Wales (née Augusta of Saxe-Gotha). He was christened at Leicester House on 25 November 1743. His godparents were William IV, Prince of Orange, The Duke of Cumberland, and Princess Amelia Sophia of Great Britain. As a grandchild of the sovereign, he was styled His Royal Highness Prince William Henry of Wales at birth. He was fourth in the line of succession at birth. Prince William Henry later joined the British Army. His father died in 1751, leaving the Prince's elder brother, Prince George, heir-apparent to the throne. He succeeded as George III on 25 October 1760, and created William Henry Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh and Earl of Connaught on 19 November 1764[2]. He had been made a Knight of the Garter on 27 May 1762. MarriageThe Duke was Warden of Windsor Forest and resided at Cranbourne Lodge. He was most known for his secret marriage 1766 to Maria Walpole, the Dowager Countess of Waldegrave, an illegitimate granddaughter of Sir Robert Walpole, from nearby Frogmore House. This marriage and that of his brother prompted the passing of the Royal Marriages Act 1772. They lived at St Leonard's Hill in Clewer, near Windsor, and had three children:
Princess Caroline died aged nine months following a smallpox inoculation, intended to protect her from the disease[3]. As great-grandchildren in the male line of King George II, Prince William's children were styled Highness from birth and used the territorial designation of Gloucester in conjunction with their princely styles. After William Frederick married his cousin Princess Mary, he and his surviving sister Sophia received the style of Royal Highness. Illegitimate IssueThe Duke also had an illegitimate daughter by his mistress Lady Almeria Carpenter, a daughter of the Earl of Tyrconnell.
Later lifeThe Duke was appointed (in an honorary fashion) to Colonel of the 13th Regiment of Foot, 3rd Regiment of Foot Guards, and 1st Regiment of Foot Guards, and he became a Field Marshal on 12 October 1793. He served as the thirteenth Chancellor of Trinity College, Dublin from 1771 to 1805. He died at Gloucester House in London. Titles, styles, honours and armsTitles and styles
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