2 November 1767 Prince Edward Duke of Kent and Strathearn
2 November 1767 marks the birth of Prince Edward. This royal event took
place at Buckingham House in London, England.
Family
Prince Edward was the fourth son and the fifth child of King George III of
England and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. He was styled:
His Royal Highness The Prince Edward from birth.
Prince Edward was a member of the royal house of Hohenzolleren.
Duty
Prince Edward started his military training in Germany in 1785. He went to
Lüneburg and later to Hanover, accompanied by his tutor Baron
Wangenheim.
On 30 May 1786, Prince Edward was appointed as colonel in the British
Army.
From 1788 till 1789 he completed his education in Geneva.
In 1789, Prince Edward was appointed colonel of the 7th. Regiment of Foot
the Royal Fusilliers.
In 1790, he was sent off to Gibraltar as an ordinary officer. Due to the
Mediterranean heat, Prince Edward requested to be transferred to present-
day Canada, specifically Quebec. He arrived there in 1791. He became the
first member of the Royal Family to tour Upper Canada.
In October 1793, Prince Edward was promoted to the rank of major-general.
He served successfully in the West Indies campaign the next year.
After 1794, Prince Edward lived at the headquarters of the Royal Navy's
North American Station located in Halifax in Nova Scotia.
In late 1798, he suffered of a fall from his horse and he was allowed to
return to England.
On 24 April 1799, Prince Edward was created Duke of Kent and Strathearn
and Earl of Dublin. He received the thanks of the parliament and an income
of 12,000 pounds.
On 24 May 1802, the Duke took up his post as Governor of Gibraltar (he
was appointed by the War Office) to restore discipline among the drunken
troops, but a mutiny by the soldiers in his own Regiment on Christmas
Eve 1802 broke out.
He was forced to return to England in 1803. At the end of his military
career at the age of 35, he was promoted to the rank of field marshal.
He also was appointed Ranger of Hampton Court Park. This office
provided him a residence.
Love and Marriage
Although Prince Edward always had many mistresses, the death of
Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales in November 1817, turned things
different.
Due to the succession troubles Prince Edward was forced to take an
official wife. On 29 May 1818 he married to
Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (the sister-in-law of
Princess Charlotte). Their wedding took place in
Coburg, Germany.
Children
On 24 May 1819 their only daughter was born. The girl received the
names Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent. She would become
Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.
Death
Prince Edward the Duke of Kent and Strathearn died of pneumonia
on 23 January 1820 at Woolbrook Cottage. He was interred in
St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Legacy
After his death Prince Edward received a statue in Park Crescent in
London in January 1824.
He also is the namesake of Prince Edward Island in Canada. This
island became famous due to the novels of Anne of Green Gables
(also the series Road to Avonlea were filmed there).
He also is the namesake of Duke Street in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
👉 Author Rose Cole mentioned on twitter that Prince Edward,
Duke of Kent and Strathearn was a supportive friend of
Mary Cole Tudor, Countess Berkeley, but that's perhaps another
story.
Source pictures: Wikipedia
place at Buckingham House in London, England.
Family
Prince Edward was the fourth son and the fifth child of King George III of
England and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. He was styled:
His Royal Highness The Prince Edward from birth.
Prince Edward was a member of the royal house of Hohenzolleren.
Duty
Prince Edward started his military training in Germany in 1785. He went to
Lüneburg and later to Hanover, accompanied by his tutor Baron
Wangenheim.
On 30 May 1786, Prince Edward was appointed as colonel in the British
Army.
From 1788 till 1789 he completed his education in Geneva.
In 1789, Prince Edward was appointed colonel of the 7th. Regiment of Foot
the Royal Fusilliers.
In 1790, he was sent off to Gibraltar as an ordinary officer. Due to the
Mediterranean heat, Prince Edward requested to be transferred to present-
day Canada, specifically Quebec. He arrived there in 1791. He became the
first member of the Royal Family to tour Upper Canada.
In October 1793, Prince Edward was promoted to the rank of major-general.
He served successfully in the West Indies campaign the next year.
After 1794, Prince Edward lived at the headquarters of the Royal Navy's
North American Station located in Halifax in Nova Scotia.
In late 1798, he suffered of a fall from his horse and he was allowed to
return to England.
On 24 April 1799, Prince Edward was created Duke of Kent and Strathearn
and Earl of Dublin. He received the thanks of the parliament and an income
of 12,000 pounds.
On 24 May 1802, the Duke took up his post as Governor of Gibraltar (he
was appointed by the War Office) to restore discipline among the drunken
troops, but a mutiny by the soldiers in his own Regiment on Christmas
Eve 1802 broke out.
He was forced to return to England in 1803. At the end of his military
career at the age of 35, he was promoted to the rank of field marshal.
He also was appointed Ranger of Hampton Court Park. This office
provided him a residence.
Love and Marriage
Although Prince Edward always had many mistresses, the death of
Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales in November 1817, turned things
different.
Due to the succession troubles Prince Edward was forced to take an
official wife. On 29 May 1818 he married to
Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (the sister-in-law of
Princess Charlotte). Their wedding took place in
Coburg, Germany.
Children
On 24 May 1819 their only daughter was born. The girl received the
names Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent. She would become
Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.
Death
Prince Edward the Duke of Kent and Strathearn died of pneumonia
on 23 January 1820 at Woolbrook Cottage. He was interred in
St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Legacy
After his death Prince Edward received a statue in Park Crescent in
London in January 1824.
He also is the namesake of Prince Edward Island in Canada. This
island became famous due to the novels of Anne of Green Gables
(also the series Road to Avonlea were filmed there).
He also is the namesake of Duke Street in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
👉 Author Rose Cole mentioned on twitter that Prince Edward,
Duke of Kent and Strathearn was a supportive friend of
Mary Cole Tudor, Countess Berkeley, but that's perhaps another
story.
Source pictures: Wikipedia
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