- 1727-1751: Prince of Wales
- Duke of Chester
- Earl of Cornwall
Frederick Lewis, Prince of Wales was born 20 January 1707 to George II of Great Britain (1683-1760) and Wilhelmine Karoline of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1683-1737) and died 20 March 1751 of unspecified causes. He married Augusta von Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg (1719-1772) 27 April 1736 .
Biography
Frederick, also known as Frederick, Prince of Wales, was the eldest son of King George II of Great Britain and Queen Caroline. He was born on February 1, 1707, in Hanover, Germany.
As a child, Frederick was educated in Germany and received a strict Lutheran upbringing. He was later sent to England in 1728 to further his education, where he became known for his love of music, the arts, and literature.
In 1736, Frederick married Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, with whom he had nine children, including King George III. However, the marriage was unhappy, and the couple became estranged over time.
Frederick's relationship with his father, King George II, was also strained. The two had different political views, and Frederick was known for his opposition to his father's policies. This led to him being excluded from the royal court and deprived of any official duties.
Despite this, Frederick continued to pursue his interests in music and the arts. He became a patron of the arts, commissioning works from artists such as Handel and Hogarth. He also established his own court, where he hosted concerts and theatrical performances.
In 1751, Frederick fell ill with a lung infection and died on March 31 of that year. He was buried at Westminster Abbey. Despite his troubled relationship with his father and the royal court, Frederick is remembered as a patron of the arts and a supporter of education and intellectual pursuits.
Heir Presumptive to the British Throne
Under the Act of Settlement passed by the English Parliament in 1701, Frederick was fourth in the line of succession to the British throne at birth, after his great-grandmother Sophia, Dowager Electress of Hanover; his grandfather George, Elector of Hanover; and his father, George, Electoral Prince of Hanover. The Elector ascended the British throne in 1714. After his grandfather died and his father became king in 1727, Frederick moved to Great Britain and was created Prince of Wales in 1729. He predeceased his father, however, and upon the latter's death in 1760, the throne passed to Frederick's eldest son, George III.
Early life
.jpg){kind=link}
Prince Frederick, c. 1720
Prince Frederick Louis was born on 31 January [O.S. 20 January] 1707 in Hanover, Holy Roman Empire (Germany), as Duke Friedrich Ludwig of Brunswick-Lüneburg, to Caroline of Ansbach and Prince George, son of George, Elector of Hanover. The Elector was also one of Frederick's two godfathers, as well as the son of Sophia of Hanover, granddaughter of James VI and I and first cousin once removed and heir presumptive to Queen Anne of Great Britain. However, Sophia died before Anne, in June 1714 when aged 83, which elevated the Elector to heir-presumptive; Queen Anne died on 1 August the same year, and Sophia's son became King George I. This made Frederick's father first-in-line to the British throne and Frederick himself second-in-line. Frederick's other godfather was his grand-uncle Frederick I, King in Prussia and Elector of Brandenburg-Prussia.[1] Frederick was nicknamed "Griff" within the family.[2]
In the year of Anne's death and the coronation of George I, Frederick's parents, George, Prince of Wales (later George II), and Caroline of Ansbach, were called upon to leave Hanover for Great Britain when Frederick was only seven years old. He was left in the care of his grand-uncle Ernest Augustus, Prince-Bishop of Osnabrück, and did not see his parents again for 14 years.
Marriage Negotitions
Negotiations between George II and his first cousin and brother-in-law Frederick William I of Prussia on a proposed marriage between the Prince of Wales and Frederick William's daughter Wilhelmine were welcomed by Frederick even though the couple had never met.[3] George II was not keen on the proposal but continued talks for diplomatic reasons. Frustrated by the delay, Frederick sent an envoy of his own to the Prussian court. When George II discovered the plan, he immediately arranged for Frederick to leave Hanover for England.[4] The marriage negotiations foundered when Frederick William demanded that Frederick be made Regent in Hanover.[5]
Frederick also almost married Lady Diana Spencer, daughter of Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland and Lady Anne Churchill. Lady Diana was the favourite grandchild of the powerful Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough. The duchess sought a royal alliance by marrying Lady Diana to the Prince of Wales with a massive dowry of £100,000. The prince, who was in great debt, agreed to the proposal, but the plan was vetoed by Robert Walpole and the king. Lady Diana soon married John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford.
Although in his youth he was a spendthrift and womaniser, Frederick settled down following his marriage to the sixteen-year-old Augusta of Saxe-Gotha on 27 April 1736.[6] The wedding was held at the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace,[7] presided over by Edmund Gibson, Bishop of London and Dean of the Chapel Royal. Handel provided the new anthem 'Sing unto God' for the service, and the wedding was also marked in London by two rival operas, Handel's Atalanta and Porpora's La festa d'Imeneo[8]
Death
According to contemporary reports, Frederick fell ill with a lung infection in March 1751. He was attended by several physicians, but his condition worsened over time. On March 31, 1751, Frederick died at Leicester House, his London residence. His death was widely reported in the newspapers of the time, and many people attended his funeral at Westminster Abbey on April 13, 1751.
Family
Mistress Anna Vane
- FitzFrederick Cornwall Vane (1732-1736) - Born on St James's Street and baptised on 17 June 1732 with The Honourable Henry Vane (his maternal uncle), Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore and Lady Elizabeth Mansel as his godparents. He died in London of "a fit of convulsions" while in the care of his uncle Henry.
- Amelia Vane (1733-1733) - Died the day after her birth.
Marriage to Augusta von Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg
- Augusta of Great Britain (1737-1813), Princess Augusta - Married, 1764, Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel; had issue.
- George III of the United Kingdom (1738-1820) - succeeded his grandfather to become King of Great Britain. Married, 1761, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz; had issue.
- Edward Augustus, Duke of York and Albany (1739-1767) - Died aged twenty-eight, unmarried.
- Elizabeth Caroline of Great Britain (1740-1759) - Died aged eighteen, unmarried.
- William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (1743-1805) - Married, 1766, Maria Waldegrave, Dowager Countess Waldegrave; had issue.
- Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn (1745-1790) - Married, 1771, Anne Horton; no issue.
- Louisa Anne of Great Britain (1749-1768) - Died aged nineteen, unmarried.
- Frederick William of Great Britain (1750-1765) - Died aged fifteen, unmarried.
- Caroline Matilda of Great Britain (1751-1775) - Born after Frederick's death; Married, 1766, Christian VII of Denmark and Norway; had issue.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| FitzFrederick Cornwall Vane (1732-1736) | |||
| Amelia Vane (1733-1733) | |||
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Johann Ludwig, Reichsgraf von Wallmoden-Gimborn (1736-1811) | 22 April 1736 Hanover, Germany | 10 October 1811 Hanover, Germany | Charlotte Christiane Auguste Wilhelmine von Wangenheim (1740-1783) Luise Christiane Baronin von Liechtenstein (1763-1809) |
See Also
Bibliography
- Michael De-la-Noy, The King Who Never Was: The Story of Frederick, Prince of Wales, London; Chester Springs, PA: Peter Owen, 1996.
- Van der Kiste, John (1997) George II and Queen Caroline. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Sutton Publishing. ISBN 0-7509-1321-5
- John Walters, The Royal Griffin: Frederick, Prince of Wales, 1707–51, London: Jarrolds, 1972.
External Links
- wikipedia:en:Frederick, Prince of Wales
- Frederick, Prince of Wales at thePeerage
- Frederick, Prince of Wales, Geni.com, https://www.geni.com/people/Frederick-Prince-of-Wales/6000000003891739213, retrieved 01 May 2023
- Frederick, Prince of Wales at Find A Grave
- Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales at the official website of the Royal Collection Trust
- Frederick Lewis, Prince of Wales at the National Portrait Gallery, London
Ancestry Trees
- Charlemagne Family Ancestry
- Rurik Family Ancestry
- Rollo Family Ancestry
- Alfred the Great Family Ancestry
- House of Hanover
- Plantagenet Family Line
- Capetian dynasty
Contemporary References
Some of the best contemporary references for Frederick Lewis, Prince of Wales, include:
- The correspondence of Frederick and his wife Augusta: This collection of letters between Frederick and his wife provides a personal insight into their troubled relationship and the challenges they faced in their marriage.
- The letters of Horace Walpole: Walpole was a close friend of Frederick and his family, and his letters provide a detailed account of the politics, culture, and society of the time.
- The memoirs of John Heneage Jesse: Jesse was a 19th-century historian who wrote a biography of Frederick based on contemporary sources. His work provides a detailed account of Frederick's life and the political and social context in which he lived.
- The newspapers and pamphlets of the time: Contemporary newspapers and pamphlets provide a glimpse into the public perception of Frederick and his family, as well as the political and social issues of the time.
- The records of Frederick's court: Frederick established his own court, where he hosted concerts, theatrical performances, and other cultural events. The records of these events provide insight into his patronage of the arts and his personal interests.
Original Citations
Royal Succession Charts
Frederick Lewis, Prince of Wales (1707-1751) Cadet branch of the House of Welf Born: 1 February 1707 Died: 31 March 1751
| ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by George (II) |
Duke of Cornwall Duke of Rothesay 1727–1751 |
Vacant Title next held by George (IV)
|
| Prince of Wales 1729–1751 |
Succeeded by George (III) | |
| New creation | Duke of Edinburgh 1st creation 1726–1751 | |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by The Prince of Wales |
Chancellor of the University of Dublin 1728–1751 |
Succeeded by The Duke of Cumberland |
Footnotes
- ^ "Yvonne's Royalty Home Page: Royal Christenings". http://users.uniserve.com/~canyon/christenings.htm.
- ^ Van der Kiste, p. 20. Van der Kiste observes that "griff" was a Caribbean term for a half-caste, and that it was applied to Frederick because he was "heavy-nosed, thick-lipped and yellow-skinned."
- ^ Van der Kiste, pp. 109–110
- ^ Van der Kiste, p. 110
- ^ Van der Kiste, pp. 86, 118
- ^ "The Royal Wedding… of 1736". 27 April 2011. http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/the-royal-wedding-of-1736.
- ^ Walford, Edward. "St James's Palace Pages 100-122 Old and New London: Volume 4. Originally published by Cassell, Petter & Galpin, London, 1878.". https://www.british-history.ac.uk/old-new-london/vol4/pp100-122.
- ^ "Matthew Kilburn, 'Frederick Lewis, prince of Wales (1707–1751)', in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 2004". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/. http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-10140. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
Footnotes (including sources)
| ‡ General |
Thurstan, Phlox, Rtol, MainTour
|