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Duke of York and Albany

Duke of York and Albany
Arms of Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany
Appointer	Monarch of Great Britain
Term length	Life tenure or until accession as Sovereign
Inaugural holder	Prince Ernest Augustus
Formation	1716

Duke of York and Albany was a title of nobility in the Peerage of Great Britain. The title was created three times during the 18th century and was usually given to the second son of British monarchs. The predecessor titles in the English and Scottish peerages were Duke of York and Duke of Albany.

History[edit]

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

During the 18th century, the double dukedom of York and Albany was created three 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 issue.

The second creation of the Dukedom of York and Albany was for Prince Edward, younger brother of King George III. He also died without issue, 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 he was the original "grand old Duke of York" in the popular rhyme. He died without legitimate issues.

Each time the Dukedom of York and Albany was created, it had only one occupant, with that person dying without legitimate issue.

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

Dukes of York and Albany[edit]

First creation, 1716–1728[edit]

Prince Ernest was the younger brother of King George I.

Duke	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	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 died without issue.

Second creation, 1760–1767[edit]

Rather than the second son of the sovereign, Prince Edward was the second son of Frederick, Prince of Wales, and the younger brother of King George III.

Duke	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
Prince Edward House of Hanover 1760–1767[citation needed]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

Prince Edward died without issue.

Third creation, 1784–1827[edit]

Prince Frederick was the second son of King George III.

Duke	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death
The Prince Frederick House of Hanover 1784–1827[citation needed]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 died without legitimate issue, having separated from his only wife Frederica Charlotte (with whom he had no children), but was rumoured to have fathered several illegitimate children.

Family tree[edit]

References[edit]