The Prince William, Duke of Cumberland (William Augustus; 26 April 1721[N.S.] – 31 October 1765) was a younger son of George II of Great Britain and Caroline of Ansbach. He is generally best remembered for his role in putting down the Jacobite Rising at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, though he went on to enjoy a successful military career. Following the Convention of Klosterzeven in 1757 he never held active military command, and switched his at...
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The Prince William, Duke of Cumberland (William Augustus; 26 April 1721[N.S.] – 31 October 1765) was a younger son of George II of Great Britain and Caroline of Ansbach. He is generally best remembered for his role in putting down the Jacobite Rising at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, though he went on to enjoy a successful military career. Following the Convention of Klosterzeven in 1757 he never held active military command, and switched his attentions to politics.
William was born in the Leicester House, Leicester Fields (now Leicester Square), London, where his parents had moved after his grandfather, George I, accepted the invitation to ascend the British throne. His godparents included The King and The Queen in Prussia (his paternal aunt), but they apparently did not take part in person and were presumably represented by proxy. On 27 July 1726, at only four-years-old, he was created Duke of Cumberland, Marquess of Berkhamstead in the County of Hertford, Earl of Kennington in the...
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