Duke of York and Albany

Duke of York and Albany was a title of nobility in the Peerage of Great Britain. In the 18th century it was, when granted, usually given to the second son of British monarchs. The predecessor titles in the English and Scottish peerage were Duke of York and Duke of Albany.

History

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

During the 18th century the double dukedom of York and Albany was created a number of 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 heirs. The second creation of the Dukedom of York and Albany was for Prince Edward, younger brother of King George III, who also died without heirs, 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 was the original "Grand old Duke of York" in the popular rhyme. He too died without heirs.

Every time the Dukedom of York and Albany has been created it has had only one occupant, that person either inheriting the throne or dying without male heirs.

Dukes

Dukes of York and Albany

First creation, 1716–1728

Duke	Portrait	Birth	Marriages	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 was the younger brother of George I and died without issue

Second creation, 1760–1767

Duke	Portrait	Birth	Marriages	Death
Prince Edward House of Hanover 1760–1767[2] 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
Rather than the second son of the sovereign, Prince Edward was the second son of Frederick, Prince of Wales, and the younger brother of George III. This Duke of York died without issue at age 28 after a short illness

Third creation, 1784–1827

Duke	Portrait	Birth	Marriages	Death
The Prince Frederick House of Hanover 1784–1827[3] 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 separated from his only wife Frederica Charlotte (with whom he had no children) but was rumoured to have fathered several illegitimate children

Queen Victoria granted the title Duke of Albany (single geographic designation) to her 4th son, Prince Leopold in 1881, and the title Duke of York (single geographic designation) to her eldest son's second (but by then eldest living) son, Prince George, in 1892.

Family Tree

See also

• Duke of York
• Duke of Albany

References