by Alison Weir
3 Maximilian William
He was born on 13 (O.S.) or 23 (N.S.) December, 1666, at Schloss Iburg, Hanover, and died on 16 (O.S.) or 27 (N.S.) July, 1726, at Vienna, Austria.
4 Stillborn son
He was the twin of Maximilian, and was born in December, 1666, at Schloss Iburg, Hanover.
5 Sophia Charlotte
She was born on 12 October, 1668, at Schloss Iburg, Hanover. She married Frederick III of Brandenburg, later Frederick I King of Prussia (1657–1713), on 8 or 28 September, 1684, at Schloss Herrenhausen, Hanover, and had issue:
1 Frederick Augustus (1685–1686).
2 Unnamed son (b.&d.1687).
3 Frederick William I, King of Prussia (1688–1740); he married Sophia Dorothea, daughter of George I, and had issue.
Sophia died on 21 January (O.S.) or 1 February (N.S.), 1705, at Hanover, and was buried in the Royal Chapel, Berlin, Germany.
6 Charles Philip
He was born on 3 or 13 October, 1669, at Schloss Iburg, Hanover. He was killed on 31 December, 1690, or 1 January, 1691, fighting the Turks at the Battle of Pristina, Albania.
7 Christian
He was born on 19 or 29 September, 1671, at Schloss Iburg, Hanover. He drowned on 31 July, 1703, in the River Danube, near Ulm, during the Battle of Munderkingen.
8 Ernest Augustus
He was born on 7 (O.S.) or 17 (N.S.) September, 1674, at Osnabrück, Hanover. He was elected Prince Bishop of Osnabrück in 1715. He was made a Knight of the Garter on 3 July, 1716, and was created Duke of York and Albany and Earl of Ulster on 5 July, 1716. He died on 14 August, 1728, at Osnabrück, Hanover.
GEORGE I
Baptised George Louis, he was born on 28 May (O.S.) or 7 June (N.S.), 1660, at Osnabrück, Hanover. He succeeded his father as Duke and Elector of Hanover on 23 January, 1698. He was made a Knight of the Garter on 18 June, 1701, and was naturalised as a British subject in 1705. He succeeded his third cousin, Queen Anne, as King of Great Britain on 1 August, 1714, and adopted the style King of Hanover also on the same day. He was crowned on 20 October, 1714, in Westminster Abbey.
George I married, on 21 November, 1682, at Celle Castle Chapel, Germany:
Sophia Dorothea
She was the daughter of George William, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneberg-Celle, by Eleanor, Countess of Williamsburg, daughter of Alexander II d’Olbreuse, Marquess of Desmiers, and she was born on 3 February, 5 September or 15 September, 1666, at Celle Castle, Germany. She was divorced by Prince George on 28 December, 1694, on the grounds of her adultery with Count Philip Christopher von Königsmarck. She was forbidden to remarry, and was confined to the Castle of Ahlden for the rest of her life, being styled Duchess of Ahlden from February, 1695. She was never Queen of England. She died on 2 (O.S.) or 13 (N.S.) November, 1726, at the Castle of Ahlden, Hanover, Germany, and was buried in Celle Church, Germany.
Issue of marriage:
1 George II ( see here).
2 Sophia Dorothea
She was born on 16 (O.S.) or 26 (N.S.) March, 1685 or 1687, at Hanover. She married Frederick William of Prussia, later Frederick William I, King of Prussia (1688–1740), firstly on 17 November, 1706, at Hanover, and secondly on 28 November, 1706, at Berlin, Prussia, and had issue:
1 Frederick Louis (1707–1708).
2 Frederica Sophia Wilhelmina (1709–1758); she married Henry or Frederick, Margrave of Bayreuth (1711–1763), and had issue.
3 Frederick William, Prince of Orange (1710–1711).
4 (Charles) Frederick II ‘the Great’, King of Prussia (1712–1786); he married Elizabeth Christina (1715–1797), daughter of Ferdinand Albert II, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.
5 Charlotte Albertine (1713–1714).
6 Frederica Louisa (1714–1784); she married Charles William Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1712–1757), and had issue.
7 Philippina Charlotte (1716–1801); she married Charles I, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1713–1780), and had issue.
8 Louis Charles William (1717–1719).
9 Sophia Dorothea Maria (1719–1765); she married Frederick William, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt (1700–1771), and had issue.
10 Louisa Ulrica (1720–1782); she married Adolphus Frederick of Gottorp, King of Sweden (1710–1771), and had issue.
11 Augustus William (1722–1758); he married Louisa Amelia (1722–1780), daughter of Ferdinand Albert II, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, and had issue.
12 Anne Amalia, Abbess of Quedlinburg (1723–1787).
13 Frederick Henry Louis (1726–1802); he married Wilhelmina (1726–1808), daughter of Maximilian, Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel.
14 Augustus Ferdinand (1730–1813); he married Louisa (1738–1820), daughter of Frederick William, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt, and had issue.
Sophia Dorothea died on 28 or 29 June, 1757, at Monbijou Palace near Berlin, Prussia, and was buried at Potsdam, Germany.
George I also had the following illegitimate issue:
By Ermengarde Melusina (1667–1743), Baroness von der Schulenberg, Duchess of Kendal, daughter of Gustavus Adolphus, Baron von der Schulenberg:
1 Petronilla Melusina, Baroness of Aldborough and Countess of Walsingham (1693?–1778); she married Philip Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773).
2 Margaret Gertrude (1703–1773); she married Count von Lippe.
GEORGE I
He died on 28 May (O.S.) or 11 June (N.S.), 1727, near Osnabrück, Hanover, of the effects of a stroke. He was buried in the Chapel of the Leine Schloss, Hanover, but was transferred to the Chapel vaults of Schloss Herrenhausen after the Second World War. He was succeeded by his son George.
George II
* * *
FATHER: George I ( see here).
MOTHER: Sophia Dorothea of Celle ( see here, under George I).
SIBLINGS: ( see here, under George I).
GEORGE II
Baptised George Augustus, he was born on 30 October (O.S.) or 9 November (N.S.), 1683, at Schloss Herrenhausen, Hanover. He was naturalised as a British subject in 1705, and was made a Knight of the Garter on 4 April, 1706. He was created Duke and Marquess of Cambridge, Earl of Milford Haven, Viscount Northallerton and Baron of Tewkesbury on 9 November, 1706. He became Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay when his father succeeded to the throne of Great Britain on 1 August, 1714, and was created and invested Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester on 27 September, 1714, at the Palace of Westminster. He succeeded his father as King of Great Britain on 28 May (O.S.) or 11 June (N.S.), 1727, and was crowned on 11 October, 1727, at Westminster Abbey.
George II married, on 22 August (O.S.) or 2 September (N.S.), 1705, at Schloss Herrenhausen, Hanover:
(Wilhelmina Charlotte) Caroline
Known by her last Christian name, she was the daughter of John Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, by Eleanor Erdmuthe Louisa, daughter of John George, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach. She was born on 1/2 (O.S.) or 11 (N.S.) March, 1683, at Ansbach, Germany. She was crowned on 11 October, 1727, at Westminster Abbey. She died on 20 November, 1737, at St James’s Palace, London, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Issue of marriage:
1 Frederick Louis
He was born on 20 January (O.S.) or 1 February (N.S.), 1707, at Hanover, Germany. He was made a Knight of the Garter on 3 July, 1716, and was created Duke of Gloucester on 10 January, 1717. He became Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay when his father succeeded to the throne of Great Britain on 11 June, 1727. He was created Duke of Edinburgh, Marquess of the Isle of Ely, Earl of Eltham, Viscount of Launceston, and Baron of Snowdon on 26 July, 1727. He was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester on 8 January, 1729. He died on 20 (O.S.) or 31 (N.S.) March, 1751, at Leicester House, St Martin’s-in-the-Fields, London, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Frederick had the following illegitimate issue:
By Anne (1705–1736), daughter of Gilbert Vane, Baron Barnard:
1 FitzFrederick Vane (1732–1736).
By Margaret, Comtesse de
Marsac:
2 Charles Marsack (1736–1820).
Frederick married, on 27 April (O.S.) or 8 May (N.S.), 1736, at the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, London:
Augusta
She was the daughter of Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, by Magdalena Augusta, daughter of Charles William, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, and she was born on 20 (O.S.) or 30 (N.S.) November, 1719, at Gotha, Germany. She died on 8 February, 1772, at Carlton House, London, of cancer, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Issue of marriage:
(i) Augusta
She was born on 31 July, 1737, at St James’s Palace, London. She married Charles II (William Ferdinand), Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1735–1806), at the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, on 16 January, 1764, and had issue:
1 Augustina Caroline Frederica Louise (1764–1788); she married Frederick I (William Charles), King of Württemberg (1754–1816) (who afterwards married Charlotte, daughter of George III), and had issue.
2 Charles George Augustus (1766–1806); he married Frederica Louise Wilhelmina (1770–1819), daughter of William V, Prince of Orange.
3 Caroline Amelia Elizabeth; she married George IV, King of Great Britain ( see here, under George IV).
4 George William Christian (1769–1811).
5 Augustus (1770–1820).
6 Frederick William, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1771–1815); he married Mary Elizabeth Wilhelmina (1782–1808), daughter of Prince Charles Louis of Baden, and had issue.
7 Amelia Caroline Dorothea Louise (1772–1773).
Augusta died on 23 March, 1813, at her house in Hanover Square, London, and was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
(ii) George III ( see here).
(iii) Edward Augustus
He was born on 14 March, 1739, at Norfolk House, St James’s Square, London. He was made a Knight of the Garter on 13 March, 1752, and was created Duke of York and Albany and Earl of Ulster on 1 April, 1760. He died on 17 September, 1767, at Monaco, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
(iv) Elizabeth Caroline
She was born on 30 December, 1740, at Norfolk House, St James’s Square, London. She died on 4 September, 1759, at Kew Palace, Surrey, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
(v) William Henry
He was born on 14 November, 1743, at Leicester House, St Martin’s-in-the-Fields, London. He was made a Knight of the Garter on 27 May, 1762, and was created Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh and Earl of Connaught on 19 November, 1764. He died on 25 August, 1805, at Gloucester House, Grosvenor Street, London, and was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
William had the following illegitimate issue:
By Lady Almeria Carpenter:
1 Louisa Maria (1762–1835); she married Godfrey Bosville MacDonald, 3rd Baron of Slate, and had issue.
William married, on 6 September, 1766, at her father’s house in Pall Mall, London:
Maria
She was the illegitimate daughter of Sir Edward Walpole by Dorothy, daughter of Hammond Clement of Darlington or Durham, and she was born shortly before 10 July, 1736, at Westminster, London. She married firstly James Waldegrave, 2nd Earl Waldegrave (1714–1763), on 15 May, 1759, at her father’s house in Pall Mall, London, and had issue:
1 Elizabeth Laura (1760–1816), Countess Waldegrave; she married George Waldegrave, 4th Earl Waldegrave (1751–1789), and had issue.
2 Charlotte Maria (1761–1808); she married George Henry FitzRoy, Duke of Grafton (1760–1844), and had issue.
3 Anne Horatia (1762–1801); she married Admiral Sir Hugh Seymour (1759–1801), and had issue.
Maria died on 22/23 August, 1807, at Oxford Lodge, Brompton, Middlesex, and was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
Issue of marriage:
(a) Sophia Matilda
She was born on 29 May, 1773, at Gloucester House, Grosvenor Street, London. She died on 29 November, 1844, at the Ranger’s House, Blackheath, Kent, and was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
(b) Caroline Augusta Maria
She was born on 24 June, 1774, at Gloucester House, Grosvenor Street, London, and died there on 14 March, 1775. She was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
(c) William Frederick
He was born on 15 January, 1776, at the Tedoli Palace, Rome, Italy. He was made a Knight of the Garter on 16 July, 1794. He succeeded his father as Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh and Earl of Connaught on 25 August, 1805. He died on 30 November, 1834, at Bagshot Park, Surrey, and was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
William married, on 22 July, 1816, at the Private Chapel, Buckingham Palace, London:
Mary
She was the daughter of George III, King of Great Britain, by Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and she was born on 25 April, 1776, at Buckingham Palace. She died on 30 April 1857, at Gloucester House, Piccadilly, London, and was buried in St George’s Chapel, Windsor. There was no issue of the marriage.
(vi) Henry Frederick
He was born on 27 October, 1745, at Leicester House, St Martin’s-in-the-Fields, London. He was created Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn and Earl of Dublin on 22 October, 1766, and was made a Knight of the Garter on 21 December, 1767. He died on 18 September, 1790, at Cumberland House, Pall Mall, London, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Henry is alleged, on circumstantial evidence, to have married privately, either on 4 March (?), 1767, or in 1770:
Olivia
She was the daughter of the Reverend D. James Wilmot. She died on 5 December, 1774.
Alleged issue of marriage:
(a) Olivia
Known as ‘Princess Olivia of Cumberland’; she was born on 3 April, 1772. She married John Thomas Serres on I September, 1791, and had issue:
1 Lavinia Janetta Horton (1797–1871); she married Antony Thomas Ryves, and had issue.
2 Daughter.
Olivia died before 3 December, 1834 (date of burial), and was buried in St James’s Church, Westminster.
Henry certainly did marry, on 2 October, 1771, at her house in Hertford Street, Mayfair, London (the which marriage was bigamous if Henry had actually married Olivia Wilmot):
Anne
She was the daughter of Simon Luttrell, 1st Earl of Carhampton, by Judith Maria, daughter of Sir Nicholas Lawes, and she was born on 24 January, 1742/3, in the Parish of St Marylebone, London. She married firstly Christopher Horton of Catton Hall, Derbyshire, on 4 August, 1765, and had issue:
1 Son (name not known) (d. young).
Anne died on 28 December, 1808, or in February, 1809, at Trieste, Italy. There was no issue of her marriage to Henry.
(vii) Louisa Anne
She was born on 8 March, 1749, at Leicester House, St Martin’s-in-the-Fields, London. She died on 13 May, 1768, at Carlton House, Mayfair, London, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
(viii) Frederick William
He was born on 13 May, 1750, at Leicester House, St Martin’s-in-the-Fields, London. He died there on 29 December, 1765, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
(ix) Caroline Matilda
She was born on 11 July, 1751, at Leicester House, St Martin’s-in-the-Fields, London. She married Christian VII, King of Denmark (1749–1808), by proxy on 1 October, 1766, at Carlton House, London. and in person on 8 November, 1766, at Schloss Frederiksberg, or at Christianborg, Denmark, and had issue:
1 Frederick VI, King of Denmark (1768–1839); he married Mary Sophia Frederica (1767–1852), daughter of Charles, Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, and had issue.
2 Louise Augusta (1771–1843); she married Frederick Christian II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein (1765–1814), and had issue. Although recognised as the legitimate daughter of Christian VII, Louise was without doubt the daughter of Queen Caroline by her lover, Count Struensee: her portraits bear this out most strikingly when compared to those of Struensee.
Caroline was crowned Queen Consort of Denmark on 1 May, 1767. She was divorced on 6 April, 1772, on the grounds of her adultery wi
th Count John Frederick Struensee (1737 executed 1772). She died on 10 May, 1775, at Celle Castle, Hanover, and was buried in Celle Church.
2 Anne
She was born on 9 or 22 (O.S.) October or 2 November (N.S.), 1709, at Schloss Herrenhausen, Hanover. She was styled Princess Royal from c.30 August, 1727. She married William IV (Charles Henry Friso), Prince of Orange (1711–1751) on 14 (O.S.) or 24/25 (N.S.) March, 1734, at the Chapel Royal St James’s Palace, and had issue:
1 Unnamed son (b.&d.1735).
2 Unnamed daughter (b.&d.1736).
3 Unnamed daughter (b.&d.1739).
4 Wilhelmina Caroline (1743–1787); she married Charles Christian, Duke of Nassau-Weilburg (1735–1788), and had issue.
5 Anne Marie (b.&d.1746).
6 William V (Batavus), Prince of Orange (1748–1806); he married Frederica Sophia Wilhelmina (1751–1820), daughter of Prince Augustus William of Prussia, and had issue.
Anne died on 2 (O.S.) or 12 (N.S.) January, 1759, at The Hague, Holland.
3 Amelia Sophia Eleanor
Known as Emily, she was born on 30 May (O.S.) or 10 June (N.S.), 1711, at Schloss Herrenhausen, Hanover. She died on 31 October, 1786, at her house in Cavendish Square, London, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
4 Caroline Elizabeth
She was born on 30 May (O.S.) or 10 June (N.S.), 1713, at Schloss Herrenhausen, Hanover. She died on 28 December, 1757, at St James’s Palace, London, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
5 Stillborn son