Duke of York and Albany

Dukedom of York and Albany
Creation date	29 June 1716
Created by	George I
Peerage	Peerage of Great Britain
First holder	Ernest Augustus, Duke of York and Albany
Last holder	Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany
Subsidiary titles	Earl of Ulster
Status	Extinct
Extinction date	5 January 1827

Duke of York and Albany was a title of nobility in the Peerage of Great Britain. The title was created three times during the 18th century and was usually given to the second son of British monarchs. The predecessor titles in the English and Scottish peerages were Duke of York and Duke of Albany.

History

The individual dukedoms of York and of Albany had previously each been created several times in the Peerages of England and Scotland respectively. Each had become a traditional title for the second son of the monarch and had become united (but separately awarded) in the House of Stuart.

During the 18th century, the double dukedom of York and Albany was created three times in the Peerage of Great Britain. The title was first held by Duke Ernest Augustus of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Bishop of Osnabrück, the youngest brother of King George I. He died without issue.

The second creation of the Dukedom of York and Albany was for Prince Edward, younger brother of King George III. He also died without issue, having never married. The third and last creation of the Dukedom of York and Albany was for Prince Frederick Augustus, the second son of King George III. He served as Commander-in-Chief of the British Army for many years, and he was the original "grand old Duke of York" in the popular rhyme. He died without legitimate issues.

Each time the Dukedom of York and Albany was created, it had only one occupant, with that person dying without legitimate issue.

Queen Victoria granted the title Duke of Albany (single geographic designation) in 1881 to her fourth son, Prince Leopold, and the title Duke of York (single geographic designation) in 1892 to her eldest grandson (second but by then only living) Prince George.

List of Duke of York and Albany

First creation (1716–1728)

Duke	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death	Sucession	Arms
Prince Ernest Augustus House of Hanover 1716–1728 also Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück (1715), Earl of Ulster (1716)		7 September 1674 Osnabrück son of Ernest Augustus, Elector of Hanover and Princess Sophia of the Palatinate	Never Married	14 August 1728 Osnabrück aged 53	The son of Ernest Augustus, Elector of Hanover; younger brother of George I
Prince Ernest died without issue; and all his titles became extinct on his death.

Second creation (1760–1767)

Duke	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death	Sucession	Arms
Prince Edward House of Hanover 1760–1767 also Earl of Ulster (1760)		25 March 1739 Norfolk House son of Frederick, Prince of Wales and Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg	Never Married	17 September 1767 Prince's Palace of Monaco aged 28	The second son of Frederick, Prince of Wales; younger brother of George III
Prince Edward died without issue; and all his titles became extinct on his death.

Third creation (1784–1827)

Duke	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death	Sucession	Arms
The Prince Frederick House of Hanover 1784–1827 also Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück (1764-1803), Earl of Ulster (1784)		25 March 1739 St James's Palace son of George III and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz	Princess Frederica Charlotte of Prussia 29 September 1791 No children	5 January 1827 Rutland House aged 63	The second son of George III
Prince Frederick died without legitimate issue, having separated from his only wife Princess Frederica Charlotte, but was rumoured to have fathered several illegitimate children; and all his titles became extinct on his death.