Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

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Ernest II Augustus Charles John Leopold Alexander Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (b. Coburg, June 21, 1818 - d. Reinhardsbrunn, August 22, 1893) was the second sovereign duke of the German duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

He was the eldest son of Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. He was also the older brother of Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria.

In Karlsruhe on 3 May 1842, Ernest married with Alexandrine of Baden. The marriage did not produce any children.

In 1844 Ernest succeeded his father to the duchies of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

He died without any heirs and was succeeded by his nephew Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, his brother's second son. (Ernest's eldest nephew Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, later Edward VII of the United Kingdom, had renounced his claims to the duchy.)

The Duke had a reputation for being a strong friend of the United States, as did his brother Albert. He was, however, the only European sovereign to appoint a consul to the Confederate States of America.[1]

The Duke was also an amateur composer; his opera Diana von Solange was given to dismal reviews at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City in 1890.

[edit] Ancestry

Ernest Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld

Francis, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld

Duchess Sophia Antonia of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel

Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Heinrich XXIV, Count of Reuss-Ebersdorf

Augusta Reuss-Ebersdorf

Karoline Ernestine of Erbach-Schönberg

Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg

Emil, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg

Charlotte of Saxe-Meiningen

Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg

Frederick Francis I, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

Louise Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenbrg (different from #3)

Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha House of Wettin Born: 21 June 1818 Died: 22 August 1893
German royalty
Preceded by Ernst I	Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha 1844–1893	Succeeded by Alfred