Duke of Cumberland

Sign at the Duke of Cumberland hotel, Canterbury. The image is of Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, victor at Culloden.

Duke of Cumberland is a peerage title that was conferred upon junior members of the British royal family, named after the historic county of Cumberland.[1]

History

The Earldom of Cumberland, created in 1525, became extinct in 1643. The dukedom was created in the Peerage of England 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 his 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)

DukePortraitBirthMarriage(s)Death
Prince RupertHouse of Wittelsbach1644–1682also: Earl of Holderness (1644)Prince Rupert17 December 1619Pragueson of Frederick V, Elector Palatine and Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of BohemiaNever married 29 November 1682Westminsteraged 62
Nephew of Charles I, died without legitimate issue.

Dukes of Cumberland, second creation (1689)

DukePortraitBirthMarriage(s)Death
Prince GeorgeHouse of Oldenburg1689–1708also: Earl of Kendal and Baron Wokingham (1689)Prince George2 June 1653Copenhagen Castleson of Frederick III of Denmark and Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-LüneburgAnne28 July 16835 children 28 October 1708Kensington Palaceaged 55
Husband of Queen Anne, died without surviving issue.

Dukes of Cumberland, third creation (1726)

DukePortraitBirthMarriage(s)Death
Prince Williamalso Marquess of Berkhamsted, Earl of Kennington, Viscount Trematon and Baron Alderney (Great Britain, 1726)Prince William26 April 1721Leicester House, London son of George II of Great Britain and Caroline of AnsbachNever married 31 October 1765 London aged 44
Also known as "Butcher" Cumberland and Sweet William.

Dukes of Cumberland and Strathearn (1766)

The sole title-holder was Prince Henry (1745–1790), third son of Frederick, Prince of Wales. He died without legitimate issue, when the dukedom again became extinct.

Dukes of Cumberland and Teviotdale (1799)

This double dukedom, in the Peerage of Great Britain, was bestowed on Prince Ernest Augustus (1771–1851) (later King of Hanover), the fifth son and eighth child of King George III of the United Kingdom and King of Hanover. In 1919, it was suspended under the Titles Deprivation Act 1917 and, as of 2025, has not been restored to its titular heir.

Family trees

Contract bridge

An historic fixed bridge hand is known as the Duke of Cumberland hand. The hand also appeared in Ian Fleming's James Bond thriller, Moonraker.[2]

References

  1. ^This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Cumberland, Dukes and Earls of". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 620.
  2. ^The Duke of Cumberland bridge hand

See also

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