Duke of Cumberland
Duke of Cumberland is a peerage title that was conferred upon junior members of the British Royal Family, named after the county of Cumberland.
History
The earldom of Cumberland had been created in 1525, but became extinct in 1643. The first creation of the dukedom, in the Peerage of England, was in 1644 for Prince Rupert of the Rhine, nephew of King Charles I. When he died without male heirs, the title was created again in the Peerage of England in 1689 for Prince George of Denmark, husband of Princess Anne, younger daughter of King James II. He also died without heirs, in 1708. Neither of these men, however, was usually known by their peerage title.
The third creation, in the Peerage of Great Britain, was for Prince William, the third son of King George II. Other titles granted to Prince William were Marquess of Berkhampstead, Earl of Kennington, Viscount Trematon and Baron Alderney. Since the Prince died unmarried and without children, his titles became extinct at his death.
The titles Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn and Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale were later created in the Peerage of Great Britain.
List of titleholders
Dukes of Cumberland, first Creation (1644)
| Duke | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Prince Rupert House of Wittelsbach 1644–1682 also: Earl of Holderness (1644) |
 |
17 December 1619 Prague son of Frederick V, Elector Palatine and Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia |
Never Married | 29 November 1682 Westminster aged 62 |
| Nephew of Charles I, died without legitimate issue. | ||||
Dukes of Cumberland, second Creation (1689)
| Duke | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Prince George House of Oldenburg 1689–1708 also: Earl of Kendal and Baron Wokingham (1689) |
 |
2 June 1653 Copenhagen Castle son of Frederick III of Denmark and Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg |
Anne 28 July 1683 1 child |
28 October 1708 Kensington Palace aged 62 |
| Husband of Queen Anne, died without surviving issue. | ||||
Dukes of Cumberland, third Creation (1726)
- also Marquess of Berkhamstead, Earl of Kennington, Viscount Trematon and Baron Alderney (Great Britain, 1726)
- The Prince William, Duke of Cumberland (1721–1765), also known as "Butcher" Cumberland and Sweet William, was a younger son of George II, but died without issue.
Dukes of Cumberland and Strathearn (1766)
The sole title-holder was Prince Henry, the third son of Frederick, Prince of Wales. He died without legitimate issue, and the dukedom again became extinct.
Dukes of Cumberland and Teviotdale (1799)
This double dukedom, in the Peerage of Great Britain, was bestowed on Ernest Augustus (later King of Hanover). In 1919 it was suspended under the Titles Deprivation Act 1917 and, as of 2016, had not been restored to its titular heir.