Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex

Prince Augustus Frederick
Duke of Sussex
Portrait by Louis Gauffier, 1793
Spouse	Cecilia Underwood, Duchess of Inverness (1831 – 1843) Lady Augusta Murray (1793 – 1794)
Issue
Augustus d'Este Augusta d'Este
Detail Titles
HRH The Duke of Sussex HRH The Prince Augustus Frederick
Royal house	House of Hanover
Father	George III
Mother	Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Born	27 January 1773 Buckingham Palace, London
Died	21 April 1843 (aged 70) Kensington Palace, London
Burial	Kensal Green Cemetery, London

Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex (27 January 1773 – 21 April 1843), was the sixth son of George III 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 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. The later minister of Hanover affairs Ernst zu Münster was sent to Italy, to escort him back to London. 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. Prince Augustus continued to live with Lady Augusta until 1801, when he received a parliamentary grant of £12,000. Lady Augusta retained custody of the children and received a maintenance of £4,000 a year.

Peerage

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. Since he died without legitimate issue, the title became extinct.

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. It should be noted that even allowing for the irregularity of these marriages, this second marriage would not have been bigamous since Lady Augusta Murray had died by then. 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

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. He was president of the Royal Society between 1830 and 1838.

The Duke of Sussex was the favourite 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.

Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex wearing the robes of a Knight Companion of the Order of the Thistle

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles

• 27 January 1773–27 November 1801: His Royal Highness The Prince Augustus Frederick
• 27 November 1801–21 April 1843: His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex

Honours

• Grand Master of the Premier Grand Lodge of England, 1813
  • Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, 1813-1843
• Knight of the Order of the Thistle

Issue

Ancestors