Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prince Henry |
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| Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn | |||||
Portrait by Thomas Gainsborough, 1777
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| Born | 7 November 1745 Leicester House, London |
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| Died | 18 September 1790 (aged 44) Cumberland House, London |
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| Burial | 28 September 1790 Westminster Abbey |
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| Spouse |
Anne Horton
(m. 1771) |
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| House | Hanover | ||||
| Father | Frederick, Prince of Wales | ||||
| Mother | Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha | ||||
| Military career | |||||
| Allegiance |  Great Britain |
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| Service/ |
 Royal Navy |
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| Years of service | 1768–1790 | ||||
| Rank | Admiral of the White | ||||
Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn (born Henry Frederick; 7 November 1745 – 18 September 1790) was a member of the British Royal Family. He was the sixth child and fourth son of Frederick, Prince of Wales. His mother was Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha. Henry was also a younger brother of King George III.
In 1771, he married a commoner, which means someone who was not royal. This marriage was against the King's wishes. It led to a new law called the Royal Marriages Act 1772. This law made it harder for royals to marry without the King's approval.
Contents
Early Life of Prince Henry
Prince Henry was born on 7 November 1745. His birthplace was Leicester House in London. His father was Frederick, Prince of Wales, who was the son of King George II. His mother was Augusta, the Princess of Wales.
He was christened, which is a religious ceremony, at Leicester House a few weeks later. From the day he was born, he was also a duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.
Becoming a Royal Duke
Just before his 21st birthday, Prince Henry received a special title. On 22 October 1766, he became the Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn. He was also given the title Earl of Dublin.
From 1766 to 1790, he was the Ranger of Windsor Forest and Great Park. This was an important role in managing royal lands. In 1766, he joined the Privy Council, a group of advisors to the King. The next year, in 1767, he was made a Knight of the Garter. This is a very high honour in England.
In 1768, when he was 22 years old, the Duke joined the Royal Navy. He started as a midshipman, which is a junior officer rank. He was sent to Corsica on a ship called HMS Venus.
However, his time there was short. The ship was called back in September after the French invaded the Corsican Republic. The Duke was promoted quickly in the Navy. He became a Rear-Admiral in 1769. The next year, in 1770, he was promoted to Vice-Admiral.
His Marriage
On 2 October 1771, the Duke married Anne Horton. She was born Anne Luttrell in 1743. Anne was the daughter of an Irish peer and a British Member of Parliament. She was also the widow of Christopher Horton.
This marriage caused problems with his brother, King George III. The King thought Anne was not a suitable match for a royal prince. Because of this marriage, the Royal Marriages Act 1772 was created. This law said that descendants of King George II could not marry without the monarch's permission. Prince Henry and Anne did not have any children together.
Anne Horton was known for her beauty. Many people, including the writer Horace Walpole, found her green eyes "enchanting." The famous painter Thomas Gainsborough painted her portrait several times.
Later Years
In 1775, the Duke started a sailing group called the Cumberland Fleet. This group later became the Royal Thames Yacht Club, which is still famous today. He continued to receive promotions in the Navy. He became vice-admiral of the White in 1776. In 1778, he was made admiral of the Blue. Finally, in 1782, he became admiral of the White. Even with these high ranks, he was not allowed to lead any naval commands.
The Duke also helped make Brighton a popular holiday spot. He first visited Brighton in 1771. In 1783, his nephew, the Prince of Wales, visited him there. This helped make Brighton a fashionable place to visit.
Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland, died in London on 18 September 1790. His wife, Anne, lived until 1808.
Titles and Arms
Titles
- 7 November 1745 – 22 October 1766: His Royal Highness Prince Henry
- 22 October 1766 – 18 September 1790: His Royal Highness The Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn
When he died, his full title was read out. It was "Most High, Most Mighty and Illustrious Prince Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn, Earl of Dublin, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter."
Arms
Henry was allowed to use the royal coat of arms. His arms had a special design to show he was a prince. It had a label argent of five points. The middle point had a red cross, and the other points each had a blue fleur-de-lys.
See also
In Spanish: Enrique de Cumberland para niños
