Duke of Cumberland


Duke of Cumberland is a peerage title that was conferred upon junior members of the British Royal Family, named after the historic county of Cumberland.

History

The Earldom of Cumberland, created in 1525, became extinct in 1643. The dukedom was created in the Peerage of England in 1644 for Prince Rupert of the Rhine, nephew of King Charles I. When he died without male heirs, the title was created again in the Peerage of England in 1689 for Prince George of Denmark, husband of Princess Anne, younger daughter of King James II. He also died without heirs, in 1708. Neither of these men, however, was usually known by his peerage title.
The third creation, in the Peerage of Great Britain, was for Prince William, the third son of King George II. Other titles granted to Prince William were Marquess of Berkhampstead, Earl of Kennington, Viscount Trematon and Baron Alderney. Since the Prince died unmarried and without children, his titles became extinct at his death.
The titles Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn and Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale were later created in the Peerage of Great Britain.

List of titleholders

Dukes of Cumberland, first Creation (1644)

Dukes of Cumberland, second Creation (1689)

Dukes of Cumberland, third Creation (1726)

Dukes of Cumberland and Strathearn (1766)

The sole title-holder was Prince Henry, 3rd son of Frederick, Prince of Wales, the eldest son and heir apparent of King George II and the father of King George III. He died without legitimate issue, when the dukedom again became extinct.

Dukes of Cumberland and Teviotdale (1799)

This double dukedom, in the Peerage of Great Britain, was bestowed on Prince Ernest Augustus , the fifth son and eighth child of King George III of the United Kingdom and King of Hanover. In 1919 it was suspended under the Titles Deprivation Act 1917 and has not been restored to its titular heir.

Family tree

Contract bridge

A historic fixed bridge hand is known as the Duke of Cumberland hand. The hand also appeared in Ian Fleming's James Bond thriller, Moonraker.