Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex

Portrait of Prince Augustus Frederick by Louis Gauffier
Portrait of Prince Augustus Frederick by Louis Gauffier
British Royalty
House of Hanover

George I
Children
   George II
   Princess Sophia Dorothea
George II
Children
   Prince Frederick
   Princess Anne
   Princess Amelia Sophia
   Princess Caroline Elizabeth
   Prince William
   Princess Mary
   Princess Louise
Grandchildren
   Princess Augusta Charlotte
   George III
   Prince Edward Augustus
   Princess Elizabeth Caroline
   Prince William Henry
   Prince Henry
   Princess Caroline Matilda
Great Grandchildren
   Princess Sophia
   Prince William
George III
Children
   George IV
   Prince Frederick
   William IV
   Princess Charlotte
   Prince Edward Augustus
   Princess Augusta Sophia
   Princess Elizabeth
   Ernest Augustus I of Hanover
   Prince Augustus Frederick
   Prince Adolphus
   Princess Mary
   Princess Sophia
   Princess Amelia
Grandchildren
   Princess Charlotte
   Princess Elizabeth
   Victoria
   George V, King of Hanover
   Prince George
   Princess Augusta
   Princess Mary Adelaide
George IV
Children
   Princess Charlotte
William IV
   Princess Charlotte
   Princess Elizabeth
Victoria

Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex (27 January 177321 April 1843), was the sixth son of King George III of the United Kingdom and his consort, Queen Charlotte. He was the only surviving son of George III who did not pursue an army or naval career.

Early life

His Royal Highness The Prince Augustus Frederick, KG, Duke of Sussex, Earl of Inverness, and Baron Arklow 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 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

While travelling in Italy, he met Lady Augusta Murray (c. 1762-1830), the second daughter of 4th Earl of Dunmore. The couple married in Rome on 4 April 1793, and again at St. George's, Hanover Square, London on 5 December 1793, without the knowledge or the consent of the King. They had two children:

  • Augustus Frederick d'Este (1794-1848)
  • Augusta Ema d'Este, later Lady Turo (1801-1866)

In August 1794, the Prerogative Court annulled the marriage on the grounds that it contravened the Royal Marriages Act of 1772 because it had not been approved by the King and Privy Council. Prince Augustus continued to live with Lady Augusta until 1801, when he received a parliamentary grant of £12,000. 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. Lady Augusta retained custody of the children and received a maintenance of £4,000 a year.

Second Marriage

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. 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.

Later life

King William IV appointed his younger brother Chief Ranger and Keeper of St. James 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.

The Duke of Sussex was the favorite 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 was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery. The Duchess of Inverness continued to reside at Kensington Palace until her death in 1873. She was buried next to her second husband.


Preceded by:
New creation
Duke of Sussex
1801–1843
Succeeded by:
Title extinct
Preceded by:
New creation
Grand Master of the
United Grand Lodge
of England

1813–1843
Succeeded by:
The Earl of Zetland
Preceded by:
Vacant
Great Master of the
Order of the Bath

1837–1843
Succeeded by:
HRH The Prince Consort

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