Duke of York and Albany was a title of nobility in the

Peerage of Great Britain The Peerage of Great Britain comprises all extant peerages created in the Kingdom of Great Britain between the Acts of Union 1707 and the Acts of Union 1800. It replaced the Peerage of England and the Peerage of Scotland, but was itself r ...

. The title was created three times during the 18th century and was usually given to the second son of British monarchs. The predecessor titles in the English and Scottish peerages were

Duke of York Duke of York is a title of nobility in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Since the 15th century, it has, when granted, usually been given to the second son of English (later British) monarchs. The equivalent title in the Scottish peerage was Du ...

and Duke of Albany.

History

The individual dukedoms of York and of Albany had previously each been created several times in the Peerages of England and Scotland respectively. Each had become a traditional title for the second son of the monarch and had become united (but separately awarded) in the House of Stuart. During the 18th century, the double dukedom of York and Albany was created three times in the

. The title was first held by Duke Ernest Augustus of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Bishop of Osnabrück, the youngest brother of King George I. He died without issue. The second creation of the Dukedom of York and Albany was for Prince Edward, younger brother of King George III. He also died without issue, having never married. The third and last creation of the Dukedom of York and Albany was for Prince Frederick Augustus, the second son of King George III. He served as Commander-in-Chief of the British Army for many years, and he was the original "

grand old Duke of York "The Grand Old Duke of York" (also sung as The Noble Duke of York) is an English children's nursery rhyme, often performed as an action song. The eponymous duke has been argued to be a number of the bearers of that title, particularly Prince Fre ...

" in the popular rhyme. He died without legitimate issues. Each time the Dukedom of York and Albany was created, it had only one occupant, with that person dying without legitimate issue. Queen Victoria granted the title ''Duke of Albany'' (single geographic designation) in 1881 to her fourth son, Prince Leopold, and the title ''Duke of York'' (single geographic designation) in 1892 to her eldest grandson (second but by then only living) Prince George.

Dukes of York and Albany

First creation, 1716–1728

Prince Ernest was the younger brother of King George I. , Prince Ernest Augustus
House of Hanover
1716–1728
' , Ernest August, Duke of York (1674-1728)

, 7 September 1674
Osnabrück
son of Ernest Augustus, Elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Sophia of the Palatinate , never married , 14 August 1728
Osnabrück
aged 53 Prince Ernest died without issue.

Second creation, 1760–1767

Rather than the second son of the sovereign, Prince Edward was the second son of Frederick, Prince of Wales, and the younger brother of King George III. , Prince Edward
House of Hanover
1760–1767' , Edward, Duke of York and Albany

, 25 March 1739
Norfolk House
son of Frederick, Prince of Wales and

Augusta of Saxe-Gotha Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg ( – 8 February 1772) was Princess of Wales by marriage to Frederick, Prince of Wales, eldest son and heir apparent of King George II. She never became queen consort, as Frederick predeceased his father ...

, never married , 17 September 1767
Prince's Palace of Monaco
aged 28 Prince Edward died without issue.

Third creation, 1784–1827

Prince Frederick was the second son of King George III. , The Prince Frederick
House of Hanover
1784–1827' , Frederick, Duke of York and Albany by John Jackson

Frederick, Duke of York and Albany by John Jackson

, 16 August 1763

St. James's Palace St James's Palace is the most senior royal palace in London, the capital of the United Kingdom. The palace gives its name to the Court of St James's, which is the monarch's royal court, and is located in the City of Westminster in London. Alt ...

son of

George III of the United Kingdom George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 173829 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and of Monarchy of Ireland, Ireland from 25 October 1760 until Acts of Union 1800, the union of the two kingdoms on 1 January 1801, after which he was ...

and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz ,

Frederica Charlotte of Prussia Princess Frederica Charlotte of Prussia (Friederike Charlotte Ulrike Katharina; 7 May 1767 – 6 August 1820) was a Prussian princess by birth and a British princess by marriage. She was the eldest daughter of King Frederick William II of P ...

29 September 1791
No children , 5 January 1827
Rutland House
aged 63 Prince Frederick died without legitimate issue, having separated from his only wife Frederica Charlotte (with whom he had no children) but was rumoured to have fathered several illegitimate children.

Family tree

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:York and Albany 1716 establishments in Great Britain Extinct dukedoms in the Peerage of Great Britain Noble titles created in 1716 Noble titles created in 1760 Noble titles created in 1784