Alexander Duff, 1st Duke of Fife facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Duke of Fife
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The Duke of Fife, c. 1889
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| Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms | |
| In office 3 May 1880 – 21 January 1881 |
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| Preceded by | The Earl of Coventry |
| Succeeded by | The Marquess of Huntly |
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| Born | 10 November 1849 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 29 January 1912 (aged 62) Aswan, Egypt |
| Resting place | Royal Vault, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, and later St Ninian's Chapel, Braemar |
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Alexander William George Duff (born November 10, 1849 – died January 29, 1912) was a very important person in Britain. He was known by different titles throughout his life, like Viscount Macduff and the Earl Fife. He became the 1st Duke of Fife. He is most famous for marrying Princess Louise. She was the eldest daughter of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. This made him a member of the British Royal Family.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Alexander Duff was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. His father was James Duff, the 5th Earl Fife. His mother was Lady Agnes Hay. His family had a long history of important titles.
When his father became the 5th Earl Fife in 1857, Alexander gained the title "Viscount Macduff". This was a courtesy title, meaning he used it because of his father's rank. He went to Eton, a famous school, from 1863 to 1866.
A Life in Public Service
Alexander Duff had an active career in public service. In 1872, he became the Lord-Lieutenant of Elginshire in Scotland. This was a representative of the monarch in the county. He held this position for 30 years.
From 1874 to 1879, he was a Member of Parliament (MP). This meant he was elected to represent his area in the British government. He was part of the Liberal Party.
In 1879, he inherited his father's title and became the 6th Earl Fife. This also gave him a seat in the House of Lords. The House of Lords is part of the UK Parliament. He also became the head of several old Scottish noble families.
He worked for the government of William Ewart Gladstone. He was the Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms from 1880 to 1881. This was a ceremonial role in the royal household. He also went on a special trip to Germany in 1882. His job was to give the King of Saxony a special award called the Order of the Garter.
In 1885, Queen Victoria gave him a new title, "Earl of Fife," in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. He also helped start the Chartered Company of South Africa. He was a vice president until 1896. From 1900 until his death, he was the Lord Lieutenant of the County of London.
Marriage to a Princess
On July 27, 1889, Lord Fife married Princess Louise. She was the oldest daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales. They got married in a private chapel at Buckingham Palace.
This wedding was special. It was only the second time a grandchild of Queen Victoria married someone who was not a royal. On their wedding day, Queen Victoria gave Lord Fife even higher titles. He became the Duke of Fife and Marquess of Macduff.
Family Life
The Duke and Princess Louise had three children:
- Alastair Duff (born and died in 1890).
- Lady Alexandra Duff (born 1891 – died 1959). She later became a Princess and the 2nd Duchess of Fife. She married her cousin, Prince Arthur of Connaught.
- Lady Maud Duff (born 1893 – died 1945). She also became a Princess. She married the 11th Earl of Southesk.
Final Years and Passing
In December 1911, the Duke and his family were on a ship to Egypt. Their ship, the SS Delhi, was shipwrecked off the coast of Morocco. They had to spend some time in the water. Then they walked four miles to find shelter.
Everyone survived the shipwreck. However, the Duke became very ill with pleurisy. This was likely caused by the cold water and the difficult rescue. He died in Aswan, Egypt, on January 29, 1912.
After his death, his elder daughter, Princess Alexandra, became the Duchess of Fife. This was because of a special rule for his titles. His other titles, including the first dukedom, ended because he had no sons. His wealth was valued at about £1 million, which is a lot of money today.
His body was brought back to Great Britain. It was first placed in the Royal Vault at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Later, it was moved to Scotland. He was buried in St Ninian's Chapel at Mar Lodge, Braemar. This was his home in the Scottish Highlands. The funeral was kept very private, as his wife, Princess Louise, wished.
Honours and Awards
The Duke of Fife received many important honours during his life.
In 1900, he received a new title as Duke of Fife. This new title could be passed down to his daughters if he had no sons. This was a special arrangement. In 1905, his father-in-law, King Edward VII, gave Princess Louise the title Princess Royal. He also said that their daughters, Lady Alexandra and Lady Maud, should be called Princesses.
Queen Victoria made him a Knight of the Thistle. This is a very old and important Scottish honour. King George V later made him an Extra Knight of the Garter. This is England's highest honour. He also became a Privy Counsellor in 1880. This meant he advised the monarch.
He had two large homes in Scotland: Mar Lodge and Mountcoffer House.
Main Honours
- Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle (KT), given in 1881.
- Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO), given in 1901.
- Royal Victorian Chain, given in 1902.
- Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (VD), given in 1904.
- Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter (KG), given in 1911.
- Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav, given in 1906.
- Knight of the House Order of the Rue Crown (Saxony), given in 1882.
See Also
In Spanish: Alejandro Duff (1849-1912) para niños
