25 November 1743 Prince William Henry Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh

Prince William, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh was born on
November 25th. 1743 at Leicester House in London.





Family

His parents were Frederick, Prince of Wales and Princess Augusta
of Saxe-Gotha.

His grandparents were inter alia King George II and Caroline of
Ansbach. 

On October 25th. 1760, Prince William's brother succeeded his
father as King George III.

On November 19th. 1764, Prince William was styled Duke of 
Gloucester and Edinburgh and Earl of Connaught. 



Love and Marriage

In 1764, Prince William began to court Maria Walpole, the 
Dowager Countess of Waldegrave. 

In 1766, he and Maria maria married in secret in his home on
the Pall Mall. 

This marriage only became known to the King after the passing
of the Royal Marriages Act 1772. The couple would have 3 
children. He also had a illegitimate daughter, born with his
mistress. 

However, their marriage was valid, Maria never was received
at court due to the anger of the King.

Duty

Prince William initially wished for active service in the military,
but due to his health and his intelligence, this wasn't a great 
success. 

However in 1766, he was appointed colonel of the 13th 
Regiment of the Foot. 

In 1767 he was promoted to major-general. He also was made
the 13th. Chancellor of Trinity College, Dublin in 1771. He held 
this post until 1805.

With the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, the Duke
hoped for a field command but King George refused. 

Death

The Duke died at Gloucester House in London on August 25th. 1805.
He was buried at St. George 's Chapel in Windsor on 
September 4th. 1805. 


Source pictures: Wikipedia

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