Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex

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 1773 – 21 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.